One in three people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles are women. Help us raise funds for the Downtown Women's Center this month as they continue getting women out of homelessness amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Downtown Women’s Center (DWC) is the only organization in Los Angeles focused exclusively on serving and empowering women experiencing homelessness and formerly homeless women. DWC envisions a Los Angeles with every woman housed and on a path to personal stability. Founded in 1978, DWC was the first permanent supportive housing provider for women in the U.S. Learn more at www.DowntownWomensCenter.org.
It’s never been more important to support women experiencing homelessness. Women’s homelessness in Los Angeles has increased by 16% over the last year and is expected to increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the first six months of 2020, DWC’s kitchen provided the same amount of meals to women experiencing homelessness as they did throughout the entirety of 2019. The average count is up to 800 meals a day. Because of social distancing, women and DWC staff have unexpected technological needs like cell phones, laptops, and chargers to continue case management, employment training, and housing placement virtually.The inability to take in used personal donations from the community resulted in low stock of clothing and other household items women need. Given the organization’s expected expansion in services due to an increase in homelessness, we’ll need to hire more staff to cover more ground and provide essential services. These needs will only grow over the next several months due to the dire economic fallout resulting from the pandemic.
The Downtown Women’s Center’s critical programs and services are needed now more than ever before. Join me in making a gift to their #TogetherHoused campaign and show your support for women in our community.