Environmental Justice is Housing Justice!

Natural disasters often leave devastation in their wake, but they also present a critical opportunity for local leaders to act decisively. These moments demand urgency to establish emergency housing and provide supportive services for those affected.

In Los Angeles, more than 75,000 people already live on the streets. Last week, wildfires forced over 167,000 residents to evacuate their homes, and many will return to find nothing left. Where will they go? Who will ensure they don’t become a part of the unhoused population?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Young Women’s Freedom Center piloted an innovative housing program funded by a private donor. This program offered safe and dignified housing, access to mentorship and life coaching, community support, and vital resources such as laundry facilities, a library, free meals, and essential items. The results were striking: 93% of participants secured stable housing after the program’s conclusion, demonstrating its effectiveness in keeping people off the streets.

This is why we need leaders across California to step up and permanently fund housing solutions that have already proven their success in supporting young people and families experiencing homelessness.

Alex Volpe, Executive Director of Beloved Village, emphasizes:

“By actively partnering with youth and families entangled in the juvenile legal system, we are reimagining placement and permanency planning in a way that minimizes institutional harm and fosters a sense of belonging, ultimately strengthening families and communities.”

At Beloved Village, we provide a holistic range of services across Los Angeles, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, and Santa Clara Counties, including:

  • One-to-one support
  • Cash assistance
  • Legal advocacy
  • Mental health and wellness resources
  • Job development
  • Reentry and restabilization services

We believe that housing is more than a roof over someone’s head—it’s a foundation for dignity, stability, and opportunity.

We urge local leaders to fund solutions that work and commit to creating a better quality of life for everyone in our community.

How You Can Help

Are you a funder, or do you know of a funding opportunity? Beloved Village is actively seeking partners who are ready to invest in proven, community-based services. To further your contribution, donate today!

Together, we can build a future where no one is left without a home or hope.