Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
— Margaret Mead
 

IDENTIFYING THE NEED

In 1983, an interfaith group of leaders from the San Fernando Valley noticed a sharp increase in the rise of families experiencing homelessness in their neighborhood. Desperate to help, they gathered local support and raised funds to purchase a 40-unit motel - The Fiesta Motel - in North Hollywood. 

There, families could benefit from a safe, warm place to stay for a maximum of 30 days while they regained their footing and worked on long-term solutions. The motel would later become LA Family Housing's "Valley Shelter".


A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT

Soon, these leaders recognized that multiple strategies to end homelessness were necessary to help more families. They began working with a South L.A.-based developer who was building small, permanently affordable apartment buildings in Southeast L.A. In 1988 the two groups merged. Their combined experience in temporary and permanent housing created a continuum of housing for families experiencing homelessness, and this partnership became what is now LA Family Housing (LAFH).

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People served by LA Family Housing

EXPONENTIAL GROWTH

Over the last 40 years, LAFH has grown to become one of the largest providers of housing and homeless services in Los Angeles, now serving 14,000+ people annually.


WHERE WE ARE NOW

Our mission is to help people transition out of homelessness and poverty through a continuum of housing enriched with supportive services; our vision is to be a leader in providing solutions to end homelessness.

We employ evidence-based best practices to achieve our goals, and operate 40 properties of temporary, permanently affordable, and permanent supportive housing across Los Angeles, with headquarters and most services based in the San Fernando Valley.