LAX Leader

Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) announced that he secured nearly $10.5 million in federal funds for 11 community projects in Los Angeles and Glendale to address homelessness, housing, and food insecurity.

Overall, Schiff secured more than $13.7 million for community projects in his district, including those to support local education, public health, and public safety programs.

“Congress’s community project funding has become a powerful tool to secure much-needed funding for organizations doing good in my district – helping them dramatically multiply the number of people they reach, the areas they serve, and their ability to make a difference in people’s lives. Homelessness, housing, and food insecurity are some of the most dire issues my constituents and the L.A. area are facing, and so this year, I felt that we needed to focus on projects that can quickly and effectively bring people off of the streets and into safe, supportive environments, and connect those in need with resources and services,” said Schiff. “These 11 projects do just that in the form of housing aid, food aid, employment assistance, and other efforts to connect unhoused individuals to shelter, housing, and wraparound services. I’m thrilled we were able to secure such robust funding, and look forward to seeing the tremendous impacts these projects will make across my district and the region.”

The funds were included in the fiscal year 2023 federal government funding legislation, which President Biden signed into law on December 29, 2022.

See below for details about the individual projects:

YWCA of Glendale and Pasadena - $2,200,000

Funding will go toward addressing campus improvements and repairs and expanding the domestic violence shelter – increasing its capacity to serve more victims of domestic violence who are experiencing homelessness.

“We are honored to be one of the community projects selected by Congressman Schiff. Empowering women and eliminating racism is our mission and the heart of what we do. This grant will expand our domestic violence shelter so we can serve more survivors of domestic violence experiencing homelessness and help us towards our long-term goal of renovating, rehabilitating, and preserving our historical building, which has been a beacon of hope, love, and inclusion in our community for over 80 years,” said Tara Peterson, CEO of YWCA Glendale and Pasadena.

Glendale College Foundation Rental Assistance Program - $1,250,000

Funding will go toward establishing a Low Income Student Rental Assistance Program, which will provide housing assistance, employment assistance, and other supportive services to low-income and unhoused community college students.

“Community college students often face significant obstacles like food and housing insecurity. That’s why we continue to build an ethic of care at GCC to address the basic needs of our most vulnerable students. We also recognize that the college can only do so much. By closing a substantial gap in service, Congressman Schiff will increase student success,” said Dr. Ryan Cornner, Superintendent and President of Glendale Community College.

Little Tokyo Service Center - $1,000,000

Funding will go toward building a Federally Qualified Health Center at LTSC’s affordable housing development at Santa Monica & Vermont Apartments in East Hollywood, which will provide on-site support and wraparound services to formerly-unhoused and low-income residents.

"We are grateful to Congressman Schiff for the funds to help Little Tokyo Service Center build a health clinic that will serve the 187 new households of our 100% affordable development, Santa Monica and Vermont Apartments, as well as the greater East Hollywood community. We’re also happy to continue to strengthen our partnership with JWCH Institute to expand access to health services,” said Erich Nakano, Executive Director of Little Tokyo Service Center.

L.A. River Encampment Resolution Grant - $982,045

Funding will go toward connecting unhoused Angelenos living in the L.A. River Basin with interim housing and community services.

“Delivering services to people experiencing homelessness both along the LA River and in RVs poses a variety of unique challenges, and every dollar we can put towards this specialized outreach is critical,” said L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman. “I’m exceptionally grateful to Congressman Schiff for dedicating critical funds to our ongoing efforts to reach these populations. They will be transformative in continuing to connect with people – some of whom have never been reached by our existing homeless services system – to get them into housing.”

Project Angel Food - $913,500

Funding will go toward expanding Project Angel Food’s capacity to prepare and deliver healthy meals to Angelenos impacted by serious illness and in need of nutritional assistance.

“Congressman Schiff’s appropriation will be transformative for Project Angel Food and our Medically Tailored Meal Program. Project Angel Food will get necessary kitchen and equipment upgrades and replacements and will purchase solar panels that will virtually eliminate our monthly electric bills. We are grateful for this generous grant,” said Richard Ayoub, CEO of Project Angel Food.

The Center in Hollywood - $750,000

Funding will go toward expanding the Center’s day center services to a second location. The Center in Hollywood gives unhoused individuals access to health care, mental health, substance use, sanitation, and other supportive programs and resources.

“We are extremely grateful and honored to have been awarded funds with the advocacy of Congressman Adam Schiff and his amazing team. The funds will go straight to advancing the person-centered, essential work of The Center in Hollywood, and throughout Los Angeles. The Center extends the gift of welcome to all people who enter our care, and the support of the U.S. Congress will only allow us to be even more effective at delivering our mission of providing safe, sustainable, and low-barrier entry into community, healthcare, and housing connections,” said Nathan Sheets, Executive Director of The Center in Hollywood.

Hollywood Food Coalition - $750,000

Funding will go toward building out a community hub that provides nourishing meals and access to housing, health, mental health, and employment services for unhoused and low-income Angelenos.

"We are thrilled and honored to receive Community Project funding through the Office of Congressman Adam Schiff. These funds will be instrumental in achieving Hollywood Food Coalition's long time goal to create a Food Equity and Community Resilience Hub. We will be able to significantly improve the services we offer to thousands of low-income Angelenos, and make strides toward eliminating food insecurity, food waste and poverty in CA-30 and beyond. We are proud to partner with Congressman Schiff on this project and grateful for his leadership on these important issues,” said Arnali Ray, Executive Director of Hollywood Food Coalition.

Glendale Police Department Homeless Response Program - $731,000

Funding will go toward expanding the department’s Homeless Outreach Program to connect unhoused individuals with housing and wraparound services.

“The Glendale Police Department is proud to partner with Congressman Schiff and our local mental health professionals in addressing the homelessness crisis. The funding secured through Congressman Schiff’s office is going to have a direct impact on those experiencing homelessness in our community. We are assured that financial limitations will not be an issue with assisting those in need,” said Glendale Police Department Captain Andrew Jenks.

FoodCycle L.A. - $652,500

Funding will go toward expanding FoodCycle’s operations redirecting businesses’ excess edible food from landfills to communities in need.

“On behalf of FoodCycle LA and the community we serve, I want to express our deep appreciation for Congressman Schiff’s support,” said Nancy Beyda, Executive Director of FoodCycle L.A. “This generous grant will enable us to continue directing food away from landfills, and bringing it to the hungry people who need it most. We’re proud to have diverted more than 10 million pounds of food since 2020, and your support will allow us to continue that critical work, fighting global warming and connecting with hundreds of small organizations across Los Angeles to empower them to feed their communities and create a more equitable system that ensures that no Angeleno goes hungry.”

L.A. Youth Ambassador Program: Peer Homeless System Navigators - $640,108

Funding will go toward establishing a program to provide low-income college students with specialized training and paid work experience to connect young people who are unhoused or at risk of falling into homelessness with support services.

“I’m immensely proud that my proposed L.A. Youth Ambassador Program is closer to getting funded, and I thank Congressman Adam Schiff for his steadfast support in selecting our program to be funded. Tragically among the many pipelines to individuals falling into homelessness, tending to the specific needs of young people has been overlooked and we need to be working more aggressively to combat homelessness and protect our youth and tailor a response specific to their needs,” said L.A. City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez. “In partnership with our Youth Development Department, I’m confident that this effort will change the trajectory for young people and will aid us in addressing a critical piece of the larger crisis.”

Labor Community Services Basic Needs Program - $600,000

Funding will go toward expanding LCS’s Basic Needs Program, which provides emergency assistance and direct relief to union members facing food, housing, and job insecurity.

“The federal funding secured through Congressman Schiff's leadership will provide us with critical funding that will support our efforts to assist families dealing with food insecurities within his district and throughout Southern California,” said Armando Olivas, Executive Director of Labor Community Services. “At a time when our families and our neighbors are still struggling to recover from the financial hardships brought on by the COVID-19 Pandemic, Congressman Schiff is ensuring that working families are not left behind and can continue to push forward. During these tough times, we know we can rely on Congressman Schiff to be there for our communities.”

Full descriptions for all of Schiff’s FY23 community projects can be found here.

Original source can be found here