The People Concern

Outreach provides us with the opportunity to engage individuals experiencing homelessness where they are; on their own turf, on their own terms, and work to develop a trusting relationship that will culminate in providing holistic services including housing and physical and mental health care.

Our mobile service-rich outreach teams target some of the most vulnerable members of our community: homeless tri-morbid (having mental illness, physical health problem/disability, and substance addiction) individuals on the street. Engagement services and physical and mental health care are provided directly on the streets if necessary.

In addition to our mobile outreach teams, the Access Center in downtown Santa Monica serves as a safe space open daily for these vulnerable individuals to use. It is the point of entry for program participants and serves an average of 200-225 people daily.

The People Concern integrates mental health care with all its services and programs. There are mental health clinicians based at each location and program of The People Concern. In the field, the Resnick Home Team Program provides in-home care for those who have been housed, while multiple mobile outreach teams provide care for unsheltered individuals with the highest levels of vulnerability.

With access to onsite, mobile, and in-home medical care, The People Concern program participants are able to maintain and improve their health and relieve some of the stress on public services.

For individuals living with chronic, acute medical issues, The People Concern provides recuperative care services at our interim housing site SOLAR in Compton. With meals, full-time nursing care, case management, linkage to permanent supportive housing, and health and diet education, residents can stabilize after a hospital stay. Case managers and advocates work to place the program participants in permanent housing once they become stable. Since its opening, SOLAR has saved Los Angeles County an average $14,000 in related health costs per patient.

Mental health and physical health challenges, plus the trauma of living life on the streets, can cause a person to self-medicate. The People Concern does not exclude individuals with substance use problems from receiving services. The People Concern makes every effort to work with individuals regardless of where they are in their recovery process, taking a "Harm Reduction" approach to long-term wellness.

Founded in 1977, Sojourn is The People Concern's dedicated domestic violence program, providing shelter and assistance for survivors of domestic violence, including children. The program connects individuals with services including a 24/7 hotline [(310) 264-6644], children's support programs, adult support groups, court advocacy/legal assistance, and mentorship.

The Wellness Program provides our program participants with psychosocial and life skills interventions to increase their coping skills and improve their quality of life. The People Concern’s model of integrated and comprehensive care empowers our participants to navigate the multi-faceted obstacles in their lives, become their best selves, and ultimately, connect with and contribute to their communities. The People Concern employs a holistic approach to health and wellbeing. Understanding that physical health and mental health are interconnected, an integrated multi-disciplinary approach is used in all facets of our programming to help promote wellbeing in our program participants.

Programs include a wide range of groups and classes, including Coping Skills, Anger Management, Harm Reduction, Music, Poetry Writing, Art, Yoga, and Healthy Living, among other skill-based workshops. The People Concern is also home to the Skid Row community art program Studio 526, in addition to access to education in nutrition, exercise, and tobacco cessation.

The People Concern does everything possible to assist our program participants to increase their incomes in order to become as self-sufficient as possible. Since many of our program participants have medical or physical disabilities, our staff begins working with program participants from the first point of engagement to assist them in applying for any benefits to which they are entitled. These benefits are crucial to their ability to pay their rent as they obtain housing.

Once benefits are secured, the agency provides a full service Money Management program for program participants and individuals who have chosen to deposit their government benefits and other income with the agency. As part of its service offering, program participants receive personal banking services including financial counseling, budgeting and bill payment services, and financial literacy support groups - all geared toward helping these vulnerable adults take control of their finances.

k9 connection is an experience-based program which educates and inspires at-risk teens through the experience of bonding with and training homeless shelter dogs.