Partnering with The People Concern for Outreach with Compassion

Mural commissioned by The People Concern located at 7th and Broadway in Santa Monica.

“everyone deserves to be housed, healthy and safe”

In August 2021, West LA Homeless entered into a strategic partnership with The People Concern to provide services for people experiencing homelessness within our geographic boundaries. The early months of this partnership have already yielded positive developments as our dedicated outreach team has worked diligently to provide assessments, resources, and a reliable point of contact with an end goal of connecting people with permanent housing.

To better understand the mission of The People Concern, WLAH recently reached out to two team members of the organization, Maureen Rivas, Program Manager and Zachary Coil, Director of Westside Outreach for a brief introduction to their agency. We’re happy to share their responses as we invite you to consider supporting and becoming a part of the ongoing work of West LA Homeless. We also want to extend our gratitude to our outreach team, Outreach Case Managers Sidney Heubner and Damian German, Outreach Case Manager and Program Manager Maureen Rivas of The People Concern.

Q: Please provide a brief overview of The People Concern.

A: One of Los Angeles County’s largest housing and social service agencies, The People Concern is the expert in connecting with people on the streets, bringing them inside and then keeping them housed. Our model of integrated and comprehensive care empowers people experiencing homelessness and survivors of domestic violence to navigate the multifaceted obstacles in their lives, become their best selves and ultimately, connect and contribute to their communities. 93% of people supported in permanent housing by The People Concern never experience homelessness again!

Q: What is the current partnership between The People Concern and WLAH and how was this partnership accomplished?

A: The People Concern was contracted by West LA Homeless to provide multidisciplinary outreach services in the West Los Angeles area covering the geographic area spanning from the 405 Freeway on the west to Wilshire Blvd. on the north to National Blvd. on the south to Century Park East on the east, with additional pockets in this general area. The team will be prioritizing the most chronically homeless and vulnerable individuals for services. This partnership is backed by an inspiring cadre of neighbors helping neighbors as well as local businesses and City and County offices. The People Concern will be utilizing best-practices and lessons learned from long-standing partnerships with community-led groups to deliver effective, compassionate, and localized services to unsheltered neighbors in West LA.

Q: What are the specific services being provided to clients in the WLAH boundaries and who is providing these services?

A: The People Concern's multidisciplinary outreach team partners with service providers to bring case management, mental health, and substance use services as well as medical care to our neighbors on the streets. Our team works to build trusting relationships with our neighbors with the end goal of connecting people to “best-fit” housing, which is often permanent supportive housing for the people we serve with higher levels of need. ​The People Concern's outreach team is leveraging resources available through Los Angeles' Coordinated Entry System (CES) and conducting assessments with people we meet on the streets to connect them with housing that fits their needs.

Q: For community members living within the WLAH boundaries, what is the best way to support the work of The People Concern?

A: Homelessness is solvable. Our outreach teams are often the first points of contact for people in need of services and housing. The solution to homelessness is housing paired with supportive services. To successfully scale permanent supportive housing and solve the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles, community and political will is necessary and we need community members to support the construction of affordable and supportive housing in their communities. Additionally, financial support is needed to sustain the work our outreach team is doing connecting people to services and housing.

Q: As we interact daily with unhoused persons and vulnerable neighbors, what are a few practical tips for how to treat these neighbors with dignity, respect, and compassion? 

A: Common courtesy like saying hello, looking a person in the eye, a smile, etc. can go a long way with the population we serve who often feel invisible.

Recognize that many of our vulnerable people are suffering from past traumas, mental illness, substance addiction and chronic health conditions in addition to trying to survive each and every day on the streets.

Subscribe to The People Concern's mantra that “everyone deserves to be housed, healthy and safe” and approach your encounters with unhoused people with that mindset.