Blog
The People Concern is at the forefront of ending homelessness and domestic violence in Los Angeles County. We are dedicated to building a more equitable community so that all of our neighbors can be housed, healthy and safe. Education, advocacy and community dialogue are crucial to our work. Our blog takes a deeper dive into social justice and policy topics as they relate to homelessness and domestic violence and provides educational resources, a behind the scenes look into the work that we do and a space for open communication.
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 with...
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
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
“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
Started by a small church in 1963, Ocean Park Community Center has since grown to become The People Concern, one of LA County’s largest housing and social service agencies. We’re looking back on our history and what has allowed us to continue our work of keeping Angelinos housed, healthy and safe.
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
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.
*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
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
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
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...
Meet Juan
Born in El Salvador, Juan came to the United States as an immigrant farmworker in the 1980’s. Shortly thereafter, he was granted citizenship and resided in the Valley with his wife where he worked as a farmworker until their marriage ended in 1998. The divorce was...
Solving Homelessness Panel Series: Housing Innovation
On Tuesday, June 28, 2022, John Maceri joined Greg Comanor, Co-Founding Partner, Daylight Community Development and Jason Ward, Associate Director RAND Center for Housing and Homelessness in LA; Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School; Author of Can Adaptive Reuse of...