• Equality
  • Community
    • Health
    • Youth
    • Seniors
  • Voices
    • From the CEO
    • Take Five
    • Why I Give
  • About the Center
  • Galleries
  • Calendar
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • This Year’s AIDS/LifeCycle Participants on Why They Ride
  • Roxane Gay Celebrates Audre Lorde Health Program at WxW: ‘Care in the Truest Sense of the Word’
  • ‘Introspections’: The Los Angeles LGBT Center Celebrates Senior Artists in a Special Exhibition
  • Bridging Communities While Honoring the Diversity of AANHPI Month: Emiko Kenderes’ Journey at the Los Angeles LGBT Center
  • Mpox Resurgence: What You Should Know
  • Pamela Anderson Shares Words of Wisdom at Center Gala: ‘Love Relentlessly’
  • Keke Palmer Celebrates Her Queerness, the LGBTQ+ Community at Center Gala
  • An Unstoppable Force: Center CEO Joe Hollendoner Touts Successes in the Face of Adversity
Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube
LGBT News Now
Learn about career opportunities at the Center
  • Equality
  • Community
    • Health
    • Youth
    • Seniors
  • Voices
    • From the CEO
    • Take Five
    • Why I Give
  • About the Center
  • Galleries
  • Calendar
LGBT News Now
You are at:Home»Community»Youth»Seeking a Few Good Homes
Host Homes

Seeking a Few Good Homes

0
By on July 16, 2019 Youth

On the heels of the startling news that homelessness in Los Angeles County has risen 12 percent over the last year, the Los Angeles LGBT Center is doing its part to curb the crisis by launching Host Homes, a new program in which youth experiencing homelessness are sheltered in local private homes.

The Center currently is seeking a diverse pool of residents who are interested in opening up their homes for short periods of time to youth. The short-term arrangement will typically last 3– 6 months with the youth receiving intensive transition services at the home and the Center during that time, and assistance in finding permanent housing.

“Often our young people are rejected from a lot of different services—and from their own families,” said the Center’s Associate Director of Youth Services Kevin McCloskey. “This is an opportunity for someone who’s willing to provide a youth with an opportunity to come into their home, appreciate who they are, and just support them.”

The Center serves approximately 300 youth experiencing homelessness per month, but beds for emergency and temporary shelter are limited. Many are on a waiting list for shelter and, in the meantime, come to the Youth Center for meals, showers, clothing, laundry, and various programs and services. On any given night in Los Angeles, there are 6,000 homeless youth surviving on the streets—a staggering 40 percent of them identifying as LGBT.

“We have to be thinking of new, innovative, creative ways to address this problem,” said McCloskey. “We want to replicate a chosen community and a chosen family for the young people.”

The Center’s goal is to match 10–15 young people within the first year of the program, which is funded by the Los Angeles Housing Services Authority. Similar programs have been established by other organizations in Minneapolis, Atlanta, and San Francisco. The first Host Homes piloted in Southern California occurred at Safe Place for Youth in Venice.

“It allows for the community to really come together and bridge the gap between the street and permanent housing for these young people,” explains Host Homes Program Coordinator Angela Pacheco.

Potential hosts must be over the age of 30 and have a private room available for the young person, who will be between the ages of 18 and 24. Hosts also must have homeowners or renters insurance and undergo a background check, a home inspection, interview process, and training before they can qualify to be matched with a youth.

Host Homes staff will meet with the youth to obtain input regarding the type of host, the location of the home, and the support they need to thrive. In the end, both the youth and the host enter into a contract covering basic house rules and boundaries.

According to McCloskey, the ideal guest recognizes it is a short-term situation and will take advantage of the opportunity to find employment, pursue education, and gain independence.

“Being in a host home gives you the space to think about how you are going to propel your life forward,” said McKloskey. “The youth will realize they’re not on their journey alone.”

Pacheco hopes the initial hosts who come on board will cause a ripple effect and inspire others to open up their homes.

“Hosts are actively participating in a solution to homelessness,” she said. “Rather than just talking about the issue and being frustrated that no one in the city is doing anything, hosts themselves are actually getting involved and creating positive results to one young person at a time.”

Residents who are interested in becoming potential hosts are invited to attend an eight-hour training session on Saturday, July 27, at The Village at Ed Gould Plaza located at 1125 N. McCadden Place in Hollywood.

To register for the training or to obtain more information about Host Homes, please contact [email protected] or 323-993-8984.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Related Posts

Big Freedia Offers Words of Inspiration to LGBTQ+ Youth at The Future Is Black: Renaissance

Slice, Slice Baby!

LGBTQ+ Youth, Seniors, and ‘Drag Race’ Queens Celebrate Chosen Family at Inaugural Intergenerational Thanksgiving Dinner

Comments are closed.

Upcoming Events

Apr 29
April 29 - June 24

A New Brain

May 13
May 13 - June 12

The Bottoming Process

Jun 16
4:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Trans Pride LA 2023: Trans Town Hall

Jun 17
12:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Trans Pride LA 2023: Festival

View Calendar
About Us

LGBT News Now

LGBT News Now is a publication of the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019, the Center is the largest LGBT organization in the world, dedicated to building a world where LGBT thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society. Learn more at lalgbtcenter.org.

Follow Us on Instagram

lalgbtcenter

The Los Angeles LGBT Center is building a world where LGBT people thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society.

Los Angeles LGBT Center
Day One of #TransPrideLA officially kicks off with Day One of #TransPrideLA officially kicks off with the #TransTownHall, a forum with many of your faves—like @xosonique, @msisisking, @sharsaysso, @cecetelfer, @ladragnuns, and so many more. Join us on June 16th at 5PM right on our Hollywood campus to celebrate our community and hear more about the fight ahead. Admission is FREE, so RSVP now at lalgbcenter.org/transpride23 (or hit that #linkinbio). 

Special thanks to our partner, @weareangelcity. 

#ProtectTransKids #TransVisibility #NonBinary #TransIsBeautiful #TransRightsAreHumanRights #TransPrideLA #PrideMonth #AngelFC
Introducing: The #TransTownHall, a program curated Introducing: The #TransTownHall, a program curated and hosted by @raquel_willis that’s kicking off this year’s #TransPrideLA! On June 16th at 5PM on our campus in Hollywood, we’ll celebrate and center some incredible voices from the trans community—from @laith_ashley to @tracelysette, @thomaspagemcbee, @cecetelfer, @jordanilan, and many more. 

The Trans Town Hall is just Day One of our annual TPLA celebration, which continues on Saturday, June 17th with a festival, workshops, resource fair, vendors, and so much more. Come for the live entertainment and free goodies—stay for the community. RSVP today at the link in bio!

Special thanks to our partner, @weareangelcity. 

#ProtectTransKids #TransVisibility #NonBinary #TransIsBeautiful #TransRightsAreHumanRights #TransPrideLA #PrideMonth #AngelFC
#TransPrideLA is back, baby—but this year, we’ #TransPrideLA is back, baby—but this year, we’re doing things a little different. We’re kicking off TPLA weekend with the #TransTownHall—a stage program curated and hosted by @raquel_willis that celebrates and elevates trans voices at this crucial time in our movement.

On June 16th in Hollywood, join folks like @peppermint247, @thechrismosier, Montana state representative @zoandbehold, and more for an evening you won’t forget. And let’s take a stand against the anti-trans bullshit, loud and proud. RSVP today at the #linkinbio! 

Special thanks to our partner, @weareangelcity.  #ProtectTransKids #TransVisibility #NonBinary #TransIsBeautiful #TransRightsAreHumanRights #TransPrideLA #PrideMonth #AngelFC
Hello from #RedDressDay on @AIDSLifeCycle! That’ Hello from #RedDressDay on @AIDSLifeCycle! That’s right: On top of our riders making the 545-miles on bicycle from San Francisco to Los Angeles AND fundraising for HIV/AIDS—they also celebrate with the occasional dress code. (This is an LGBTQ fundraiser, after all.) Red Dress Day is a long beloved tradition in HIV/AIDS fundraising, but our #AIDSLifeCycle participants take it to a whole new level. Swipe to enjoy some of our favorite fashion moments from today…and a particularly compelling cameo from @joe.hollendoner.
They did it, Joe! Our @AIDSLifeCycle riders have o They did it, Joe! Our @AIDSLifeCycle riders have officially passed their halfway point to Los Angeles, biking over 200 miles from San Francisco. At the rest stop, we caught up with @colmacpro, otherwise known as Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2023. Colin is a #roadie on #AIDSLifeCycle, which means he’s volunteering for the week to keep our riders safe and motivated. “I’ve wanted to do ALC for 10 years,” he says. “When I got kicked out of my childhood home for being gay at the age of 15, the last thing my mom said to me was that I’d die of AIDS. I was terrified [of the virus] for most of my life—but now I’ve had partners who are positive. Growing up and seeing the evolution of HIV/AIDS treatment makes me want to help.” 

Colin is rocking his titleholder sash all week as a tribute to the way the Leather Community was impacted by HIV/AIDS. “We were hit so hard during the epidemic. That means the people still left are the ones who carry on the tradition. In fact, some people wear leather pieces from those we lost to the crisis. It’s our way of remembering them.”

Stay tuned for additional updates from the ride—and follow our friends at @aidslifecycle for more.
Last night, a school board meeting in #Glendale tu Last night, a school board meeting in #Glendale turned violent—with police having to issue a shelter-in-place order for participants. The reason? Glendale Unified was voting to recognize June as #LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Today, the Center issued the above statement. “It’s time we call out these attempts for what they are: Fascism. Pride, on the other hand, is about freedom.” Swipe to read it in full. #SafeSchools #LGBTQPride #OutForSafeSchools
The Los Angeles LGBTQties really turned it out for The Los Angeles LGBTQties really turned it out for #WeHoPride this weekend! Swipe to see some of our favorite highlights from the festivities—including one very good boy who believes in gay rights. (And by the way, thanks to any and all of you for rocking your #CenterYourPride swag. It looks good on you!)

📸 @mammothsprite
Mark your calendars for June 16-17 for the return Mark your calendars for June 16-17 for the return of #TransPrideLA, presented by @weareangelcity. This festival has been observed for more than a decade—making it one of the oldest, dedicated celebrations of Transgender Pride in the country. 

The iconic two-day event takes place at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Hollywood campus and features appearances by Montana state @zoandbehold, @raquel_willis, @laith_ashley, and many more! 

RSVP today at link in bio! 

Stay tuned for more details! 🏳️‍⚧️

#transisbeautiful #ProtectTransKids #TransVisibility #NonBinary #TransIsBeautiful #TransRightsAreHumanRights #TransPrideLA #PrideMonth #AngelFC
Happy #Pride to @trinoxadam, the LA-based gay coup Happy #Pride to @trinoxadam, the LA-based gay couple whose photo shoot went viral at the beginning of this month. “Pride, to us, is celebrating and screaming to the world about who you are, with no fucks given,” they told us. “We keep our love alive with honesty and by having different layers to our relationship. We’re homies, friends, family, lovers, husbands, dads, brothers, and besties.” Shoutout to photographer @henryjimenz for capturing their love so beautifully. Want to be featured? Use the #CenterYourPride and you might show up on our page 🥰
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Stay Connected
Subscribe
Copyright © 2022 Los Angeles LGBT Center
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy
  • Contact Us

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.