Wings to Fly

Affordable housing and homelessness

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Former foster and homeless youth face significant barriers to stable housing and employment, often resulting in a cycle of poverty and instability. Wings to Fly aims to break this cycle by providing comprehensive and uniquely tailored supportive services . The high risk of homelessness and lack of stable housing among transition aged former foster and homeless youth in Los Angeles is one of the most pressing issues we face in Los Angeles today. Many of the youth in this under-resourced population face significant barriers, including limited access to education, employment opportunities, and services, which hinder their ability to achieve self-sufficiency. Without stable housing and a supportive community, they are at greater risk of falling into chronic homelessness and poverty.

Wings to Fly program will provide transitional housing for up to 16 youth, along with supportive services including case management, mental health counseling, job training, and educational support. The program will also include a rapid rehousing component to help participants transition to permanent housing.Our model has proven that access to Our goal is to provide safe, supportive housing and comprehensive resources to empower our most vulnerable these youth, helping them build a foundation for a stable, and sustainable independence.successful future.

When successful, Wings to Fly will reduce youth homelessness in Los Angeles, empower former foster youth to achieve self-sufficiency, and create a model for holistic, community-based support services that can be replicated in other regions.

1. Housing Stability: Tracking the number of youth housed and the duration of their stay in stable housing. 2. Employment and Education: Monitoring employment rates and educational achievements among our participants. 3. Well-being and Self-Sufficiency: Using surveys and interviews to assess improvements in mental health, self-esteem, and independence. 4. Homelessness Rates: Measuring the decrease in returns to homelessness among our participants. Evidence of success includes an increasing number of youth achieving long-term housing stability, higher employment and educational attainment, and positive feedback from participants regarding their well-being and sense of community. Additionally we conduct regular assessments and feedback sessions to receive participant input and explore ways to improve our programs, ensuring they effectively address the needs of former foster and homeless youth