LAURA HARWOOD
Deputy Director, Interim Housing; Chief Programs Officer
Hope the Mission
Laura Harwood stands out as an inspirational leader in addressing homelessness in Los Angeles County. Harwood’s most successful career accomplishments to date include her rapid ascension through leadership roles at Hope the Mission, culminating in her current position as chief programs officer. In this role, she oversees all of the organization’s interim sites, including Inside Safe Tiny Homes, Family, and Individual Residential programs.
Under Harwood’s leadership, the Inside Safe program, a Mayor’s Initiative focused on providing immediate housing solutions to encampments, has successfully transitioned more than 200 individuals off the streets in the last year. The program saw a significant increase in permanent housing transitions, from 7% in FY 2022- 2023 to 35% in FY 2023-2024.
