Since its founding in 1983, LA Family Housing (LAFH) has become the largest affordable housing and supportive services provider in the San Fernando Valley and a leader among service providers in Los Angeles. LAFH’s mission is to help people transition out of homelessness and poverty through a continuum of housing enriched with supportive services. The agency operates through four main service areas: street-based outreach, engagement, and intervention; housing services and placement; supportive services; and real estate development. Its team of over 450 staff dedicate themselves to serving over 11,000 of our homeless neighbors annually, providing solutions to end homelessness in people’s lives.
Unlike most other homeless service providers in the region, LAFH is also an affordable housing developer, allowing for a seamless progression of support for its program participants. In its unique position as a leader in both the affordable housing and homeless service provider communities, LAFH has been instrumental in increasing the critically needed affordable and permanent supportive housing stock in Los Angeles, while also providing the supportive services that enable people transitioning out of homelessness to regain housing stability. LAFH currently owns 30 affordable, interim, and supportive housing properties throughout Los Angeles County, and has over 700 additional units of permanent supportive housing in its real estate pipeline to be completed by 2024.
In 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic shed greater light on the vulnerabilities of our unhoused neighbors, LAFH broke ground on Silva Crossing, a new permanent supportive housing community in Sylmar that will provide 56 new homes for individuals experiencing homelessness. That same year, LAFH opened The Willows, an interim housing site in Canoga Park for individuals and couples transitioning out of homelessness. The Willows has received multiple awards for design and community impact, including a residential architecture award from the American Institute of Architects for its design reflecting a focus on trauma recovery and community-building, and was the Gold honoree for the Community Impact category at LA Business Journal’s recent Commercial Real Estate Symposium & Awards. As well, LAFH acquired four motels through California’s Project Homekey initiative, the fastest, largest, and most cost-effective method for creating new permanent homes in State history, and began the process of converting those units into permanent supportive housing.
LAFH is creative in its financing, currently raising catalytic philanthropic dollars in lieu of typical public financing for these conversions, and building a case study for a model that immediately makes more permanent housing available to fill the dire gap in Los Angeles.
LA Family Housing continues to expand its service model to best meet the expanding needs of its community amidst COVID-19; the agency has grown by over 30% over the last two years. In 2021, the organization connected nearly 12,000 people in Los Angeles with housing resources and supportive services that end homelessness in their lives, including moving 2,410 people into permanent homes, 97% of whom retain their housing—a considerable feat given the 60-65% national average.
LAFH’s robust volunteer program is the backbone of our work. Members of the community, volunteer groups, and corporate volunteers interested in joining the fight to end homelessness can participate in numerous activities at our various housing sites, including tutoring our youth participants, playing games and engaging in quality time with families, assembling back-to-school kits, welcome home baskets, and hygiene kits, or engaging in advocacy activities.
For more information on how to get involved with LAFH and to see current volunteer opportunities, visit lafh.org.
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