Project / 03
Community systems
Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program
Youth homelessness in Los Angeles is disproportionately concentrated among youth of color and LGBTQ+ youth — populations that have historically been failed by systems not designed for them. LA County applied for a $15M federal YHDP grant to build a fundamentally different response.
(Impact at a glance)
Youth voice moved from consultation to permanent decision-making power.$15M
HUD federal funding awarded
4,000+
youth experiencing homelessness in LA County
200+
stakeholders brought into alignment
The context
Existing services were fragmented and not youth-specific. 81% of youth experiencing homelessness in LA were youth of color; 31% were Black youth — despite being 8% of the population. 1 in 3 identified as LGBTQ+. Youth reported deep mistrust of programs that didn't reflect their experiences or give them voice.
The approach
I co-led the HUD NOFO application and co-authored the Coordinated Community Plan. I facilitated the Vision, Values & Principles subcommittee — integrating PIT and HMIS data with direct youth testimony. 50+ youth leaders shaped the vision. The plan built four pillars: Host Homes and Rapid Rehousing with dignity-centered design, Drop-In Resource Centers, Youth System Navigators embedded in the Coordinated Entry System, and a permanent Youth Action Board with voting authority on funding decisions.
The outcome
Youth voice moved from consultation to permanent decision-making power.
LA County was awarded $15M. The Coordinated Community Plan was adopted with the Youth Action Board as a permanent governance structure. The model centered equity and harm reduction as non-negotiables — not add-ons.
(04 / Selected process)
The work behind the work.
(Open the files)