Volunteer Spotlight: Will Helps Save Lives Through Harm Reduction

Volunteer Spotlight: Will Helps Save Lives Through Harm Reduction

Will Turner started volunteering with The People Concern in 2019. Will’s creative spirit initially led him to engage with residents of Skid Row at our Studio 526, but when the pandemic disrupted on-site volunteering, he found a new path that would not only align...
Harm Reduction Kits Help Save Lives in Skid Row

Harm Reduction Kits Help Save Lives in Skid Row

Rick does his usual round through the streets of Skid Row –around San Julian and Sixth Street. He is recognized and greeted by several members of the community. He keeps a lookout for individuals silently battling the hardships of living on the street. Individuals...
Cementing the Foundation to Harvest our Future

Cementing the Foundation to Harvest our Future

  In March, amidst the warm spring breeze, several children and their parents came together in the yard of the Ray Grutzmacher Family Community site to celebrate the much-awaited opening of their brand-new community garden. As the children dug their hands into...
The People Concern’s Outreach Teams Lead Inside Safe Initiative

The People Concern’s Outreach Teams Lead Inside Safe Initiative

“You are wasting your time.” Kiana Matthews, E6 Outreach Midtown Assistant Director, heard these words often when she performed her first outreach at the encampment around 6th Street and Fairfax Boulevard in Los Angeles back in the Spring of 2020.  Matthews recalls...
60 Years of Advocacy

60 Years of Advocacy

LAMP Lodge, LAMP’s original permanent supportive housing, reopened in February of 2023 after renovations were made.  Decades ago, separated by miles of freeway and traffic, parallel efforts to eradicate homelessness were taking place in Skid Row and Santa Monica by...

John Maceri’s Response to Jordan Neely Homicide

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Media contact:   Vanessa Moreno, vmoreno@thepeopleconcern.org  The People Concern’s CEO John Maceri Responds to the Murder of Jordan Neely  The recent homicide of Jordan Neely in the New York subway system by a fellow passenger was a tragedy...

The Journey To Home Panel – 2/23/23

On Thursday, February 23, The People Concern staff experts Hazel Lopez, Ciara DeVozza, Lori Bowe and Melissa Vollbrecht provided an overview of housing solutions and homelessness services in Los Angeles County. Together they discussed outreach strategies, interim...
Meet Veronica

Meet Veronica

We are so proud of the progress Veronica has made since connecting with our program! Our Outreach Teams first met Veronica, while piloting the Encampment to Home initiative, in partnership with CD 10, which aimed to move people living in encampments under freeways...
Success Story: A Housing Plan and Services for K.S. 

Success Story: A Housing Plan and Services for K.S. 

*Written by Guest Blogger Glanda Sherman, Palisades Outreach & Engagement Specialist, The People Concern K.S. came to the Palisades area to retreat from L.A.’s busy urban city life. As part of his hustle to supplement his income, the Palisades proved to be a...
Program Spotlight: SHWASHLOCK Locker Program

Program Spotlight: SHWASHLOCK Locker Program

Located at the Annenberg Access Center in Santa Monica, The People Concern’s SHWASHLOCK program provides people experiencing homelessness with essential hygiene services including access to showers, laundry and lockers at no cost. Operating for nearly 30 years, the...
A Foster First: From Skid Row to Colorado

A Foster First: From Skid Row to Colorado

Charlotte was experiencing homelessness when she rescued Bougie, a stray dog, from an abandoned tent in Skid Row. Charlotte cared for Bougie and together they lived unhoused until Charlotte was moved into permanent housing with the help of The People Concern. After...
Meet Jeff

Meet Jeff

The People Concern’s Homeless Multidisciplinary Street Team (HMST) serves chronically homeless individuals who have been identified by the City of Santa Monica as the highest utilizers of emergency resources such as police, fire and emergency departments. Jeff, a...