A homeless family-resource hub has opened in the northeast San Fernando Valley, Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez announced Thursday.
The hub at the North Valley Caring Services campus is coordinated through a partnership with the city of Los Angeles, homeless service providers and the Los Angeles Unified School District.
"A critical gap exists between the services available and a family's ability to access them," Rodriguez said. "It takes all of us working collaboratively to combat the homelessness crisis on our streets and in our schools -- this is a responsibility we all share."
The service center will have in-house case managers, housing navigation services, a food security program, shower services, activities for children living in motels, workforce development and child care.
"Placing families in motels is only the first step in helping our homeless families, and we must also provide them with basic necessities such as food, clothing and a sense of security to help them succeed," said Manny Flores, the executive director of NVCS.
Rodriguez was the author of a motion to garner more than $500,000 through California's Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) to establish the center. The program will be operated by NVCS, a nonprofit that serves homeless and low-income individuals and families in North Hills and surrounding neighborhoods. LAUSD will be able to directly refer students and families for services.
The northeast San Fernando Valley has about 17,000 students who qualify for homeless services under the school district's programs, based on an LAUSD survey.
Telfair Elementary School in Pacoima has the highest percentage of students who qualify in the school district.
