Where do Unhoused People Go During the Day? Understanding the Landscape of Daytime Services in LA County

Everyday thousands of people experiencing homelessness in LA County search for somewhere to feel safe and access resources during the daytime. A new RAND report, commissioned by United Way of Greater Los Angeles, finds that there is an incredible network of nonprofits,  faith, and community groups scraping together resources from community members, congregants, and private funding to provide critical services and spaces, including food, health and social services, personal hygiene, respite, and storage. While limited resources and staffing challenges lead to service gaps, hundreds of organizations across the county are eager to provide dignified daytime spaces for unhoused Angelenos to come inside to get some rest and care.

During this session, RAND will provide a brief overview of the report which identified and surveyed over 300 nonprofit, faith-based, and community-based organizations representing every region of the County, finding that: 

• The majority (74%) were interested in expanding their service capacity, 61% wanted to improve service quality, and 50% wanted to expand the range of services offered. 
• The top three investment priorities were reliable and long-term funding (51%), financing for capital assets (46%), and funding for administrative work and overhead (43%). 
• The top challenges faced by clients were overcrowding, distance (or lack of nearby service provider), and limited service hours.

Following the presentation, we’ll learn from local system leaders and service providers on the current landscape of daytime services for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, the challenges the system and providers face in supporting our unhoused neighbors, and the critical role that philanthropy can play to support expanded access to these life-saving resources across the region.

We hope you can join us in this timely discussion!