Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) has a tough job. As the primary homeless services agency for Los Angeles County, LAHSA is responsible for helping to end homelessness in 88 cities spanning 4,083 square miles – that’s an area larger than the states of Delaware and Rhode Island combined!
Thanks to dedicated staff members, the agency continues to make amazing strides. In 2019, LAHSA helped a record 21,631 people move from homelessness to some kind of permanent, supportive housing. This is thanks to the fervent, resourceful and compassionate people serving on LAHSA’s team.
Take Martha Trujillo for example. As an outreach worker for LAHSA, Martha has a big heart and doesn't take no for an answer. She commits to her clients, as is the case with Noemi. Homeless people often have years of trauma. The longer a person is outside, the harder it is for them to accept help. Noemi was pregnant living in a tent addicted to drugs. Even though Noemi kept pushing Martha away, Martha kept visiting. Eventually, she got Noemi into rehab.
Today, Noemi is sober, in housing, and has a job.
"She's more than a case manager to me, she is family,” Noemi said about Martha.
Martha shows us that we can end homelessness if we don't give up on people.
And homeless services everywhere continue to do better than they ever have. The problem is more people are entering homelessness than getting out due to the affordable housing crisis. The latest homeless count reported 58,936 people are experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County alone. Of course, this is a good guess at best. The number of homeless people in every city is far greater than what's being reported.
Agencies like LAHSA need more support from the public and elected officials. There needs to be more support for solutions, more support for affordable housing options, and more support to provide basic needs services. The public must take action and show their support for agencies like LAHSA that are out on the street every day saving people.
These Stories is a mini-doc series that goes beyond the rhetoric, statistics, political debates, and limitations of social services to examine poverty in America via a medium that audiences of all ages understand, and can’t ignore.
Special Thanks go to Team Invisible People
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