LOS ANGELES – Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez secured over $500,000 to fund navigation, hygiene, and supportive services for homeless families in the Seventh Council District. The funding was secured through the state’s Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) and will be administered by North Valley Caring Services (NVCS), an independent nonprofit which serves homeless and low-income individuals and families in North Hills and the surrounding neighborhoods.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 23, 2019
Press Contact: Tran Le, tran.le@lacity.org, 213-257-0475
— FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE —
COUNCILWOMAN MONICA RODRIGUEZ SECURES OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO SUPPORT HOMELESS FAMILIES IN THE NORTHEAST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
Funds Will Be Allocated for Navigation and Supportive Services
LOS ANGELES – Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez secured over $500,000 to fund navigation, hygiene, and supportive services for homeless families in the Seventh Council District. The funding was secured through the state’s Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) and will be administered by North Valley Caring Services (NVCS), an independent nonprofit which serves homeless and low-income individuals and families in North Hills and the surrounding neighborhoods.
“All families, regardless of circumstance, deserve a fighting chance to support their children’s future,” said Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez. “This funding will help fill a critical gap in resources by providing families experiencing homelessness a centralized hub for services.”
Families experiencing homelessness are often placed in motels as a first step toward securing permanent housing. In this interim housing placement, parents must balance childcare, housing and employment appointments, and obligations of their school-aged children. This can translate into missed school days, or skipped appointments, which further exacerbates their housing issues.
“Our outreach team has witnessed these families struggle to feed themselves on a regular basis. They have had to rely on strangers for childcare, and their children are often playing in unsafe environments. Our organization is grateful for the funding that will allow our team to serve as a hub for homeless families living in motels in the San Fernando Valley. This work is important and will ultimately lead to establishing stable and thriving families in our community,” said Manny Flores, Executive Director of NVCS.
The funding will support NVCS’ efforts to become a family navigation center: a one-stop-shop where families in need can access supportive services and receive referrals to supporting agencies. The NVCS campus will have in-house case managers, housing navigation services, food security program, shower services, activities for children living in motels, workforce development, and license exempt child care.
In the Northeast San Fernando Valley, over 71,000 students identify as homeless. In March 2018, Councilwoman Rodriguez introduced legislation to better coordinate homeless support services between local agencies and public schools.
“I am proud of our productive partnership with NVCS and continued progress to support residents in the Northeast San Fernando Valley,” said Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez. “This funding will help deliver much-needed resources to help families in our community transition out of homelessness.”
For more information, read the HEAP funding motions here and here.
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Los Angeles City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez represents the 7th Council District in the Northeast San Fernando Valley which include the neighborhoods of Sylmar, Mission Hills, Pacoima, Lake View Terrace, Sunland-Tujunga, North Hills, Shadow Hills, and La Tuna Canyon