I first connected with Safe Place for Youth (SPY) around eight years ago. I believe it was their social media volunteer that reached out to me and asked that I connect with their executive director Alison Hurst t. They took me out to lunch and since that moment, Alison has been one of my favorite people. In a sector that's often fueled by political agendas, Alison's candor is refreshing. She tells it like it is. Alison also genuinely cares for homeless youth.
At the time, Safe Place for Youth did even have a location in Venice Beach. Now, they have a wonderful building where they are able to help over a hundred homeless youth every day.
I love Safe Place for Youth, which many of the kids now call SPY. I have visited a few times. It's a happy place full of love. Because SPY is just a day center, watching the homeless youth leave around 5pm is so very sad. A lot can happen to young adults out on the streets.
The good news is that the Los Angeles City Council approved a Bridge Home, which is a temporary housing facility that will have 54 beds dedicated to homeless youth. I love that Councilmember Mike Bonin visited with the youth at SPY to get their insight on the bridge housing's design and support services.
In full disclosure, Invisible People is working with Los Angeles to help humanize homelessness. We were given no instructions except to do what we do best and that is to empower homeless people to share their own stories. Our work features the raw and unfiltered stories of homeless people. I have to give lots of respect to Mike Bonin supporting this type of storytelling and for genuinely wanting homeless people's voice to be heard.
One of the many highlights of this video is near the end when we talk to two formerly homeless youth that are now living in a host home. As far as I know, Safe Place for Youth (SPY) is one of the first homeless youth organizations that connect people who have a spare room with homeless youth. It's truly amazing! With homeless numbers increasing and the affordable housing crisis getting worse, we need to figure out creative ways to end homelessness. Hearing from these two young adults really sold me on the host home model!
At the time, Safe Place for Youth did even have a location in Venice Beach. Now, they have a wonderful building where they are able to help over a hundred homeless youth every day.
I love Safe Place for Youth, which many of the kids now call SPY. I have visited a few times. It's a happy place full of love. Because SPY is just a day center, watching the homeless youth leave around 5pm is so very sad. A lot can happen to young adults out on the streets.
The good news is that the Los Angeles City Council approved a Bridge Home, which is a temporary housing facility that will have 54 beds dedicated to homeless youth. I love that Councilmember Mike Bonin visited with the youth at SPY to get their insight on the bridge housing's design and support services.
In full disclosure, Invisible People is working with Los Angeles to help humanize homelessness. We were given no instructions except to do what we do best and that is to empower homeless people to share their own stories. Our work features the raw and unfiltered stories of homeless people. I have to give lots of respect to Mike Bonin supporting this type of storytelling and for genuinely wanting homeless people's voice to be heard.
One of the many highlights of this video is near the end when we talk to two formerly homeless youth that are now living in a host home. As far as I know, Safe Place for Youth (SPY) is one of the first homeless youth organizations that connect people who have a spare room with homeless youth. It's truly amazing! With homeless numbers increasing and the affordable housing crisis getting worse, we need to figure out creative ways to end homelessness. Hearing from these two young adults really sold me on the host home model!
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