Melina fled her home to escape domestic violence to protect herself and her children. They had nowhere to go so they turned to The Whole Child.
“I left not one but two abusive homes, first to get away from a violent spouse then a threatening situation while staying with a family member; and my children and I found ourselves homeless” explained Melina, The Whole Child Family Housing client. “Things felt hopeless.”
The Whole Child’s Safe Families Interim Housing Program located in Echo Park marks the nonprofit organization’s entry into the field of housing development and will provide 44 units/102 new beds into Los Angeles County’s Coordinate Entry System (CES) for Families experiencing homelessness. Families will receive an array of interdisciplinary services designed to provide a strong start on their journey back to permanent housing, including the agencies own mental health, parent enrichment and nutrition education services. The welcoming grounds provides a safe place for children and their families to heal and find stability needed to be successful long term.
“Today we celebrate a win for Los Angeles County,” pronounces Supervisor Hilda Solis at the Safe Families grand opening. “It is our priority to make sure that children are kept safe from the harshness of sleeping in cars and motels,” she continued.
The Whole Child welcomed their first families into residence at the Safe Families Interim Housing Program the first week in September.
“Eighty percent of children experiencing homelessness will become homeless adults,” explains Constanza Pachon, CEO of The Whole Child. “This facility will reduce trauma in children experiencing homelessness and will help break the cycle of generational homelessness in Los Angeles”, Pachon added.
Over 8,000 children under eighteen are currently experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County. More interim and affordable housing are needed to combat this e
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Safe Families Ribbon Cutting
Supervisor Hilda L. Solis remarks at the Safe Families Interim Housing Program Grand Opening on September 21, 2019
Right to Left: Veronica Duran, TWC Housing client, Marina Mejia, Safe Families Facilities Manager, Supervisor Hilda L. Solis and Constanza Pachon, CEO of The Whole Child
City of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti shares his story of living up the street from Safe Families and would be happy to have us in his backyard.
