Harbor Interfaith Services, Inc.

Harbor Interfaith Services works to empower the homeless and working poor to achieve self-sufficiency by providing support services including shelter, transitional housing, food, job placement, advocacy, childcare, education, and life-skills training.

HIS helps clients through five programs:

The Family Resource Center is the point of entry. People come for food and can receive a three-day supply of groceries and hygiene items. Case Advocates provide assistance with bureaucratic mistakes, securing benefits, transportation, and facilitating referrals to other agencies. The FRC also telephones for client use and mail pick-up.

The Children’s Center offers licensed care for up to 80 infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children.

The Coordinated Entry System is a structure for helping homeless individuals, youth and families find housing. The system finds housing for clients through collaborations with service providers and landlords. It initiates street outreach, connects clients to community resources such as mental health and recovery services, and helps them secure and retain employment.

The Family Shelter Program offers short-term (up to 90 days) of housing, accommodating 20 families at a time.

HIS, entering our 44th year, is a recognized leader in the field. Since 2014, we have been the authorized Service Planning Area 8 (South Bay) Lead Provider for the Coordinated Entry System (CES) for Adults, Families and Youth. In 2017, homelessness rose by fifteen percent across the region. There is still work to do.
Here are a few additional accomplishments:
• In 2017, Shari Weaver, Director of the Coordinated Entry System, earned the Pioneer Woman of the Year Award presented by the Los Angeles City Council for her work with the city’s homeless population.
• In June 2016, the California State Assembly named us “Nonprofit of the Year” for District 70.
• In 2014, an early childhood instructor, Connie Smith, was awarded Teacher of the Year by Los Angeles Universal Preschool, publicly demonstrating that homeless children deserve--and can receive--quality learning experiences.
• In 2013, the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce named Harbor Interfaith its Nonprofit of the Year.

In 2017, we served over 9,600 individuals offering 54,000 service contacts. We exceed all homeless housing placement goals set by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.