Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Helps Many Homeless at LA City Libraries
Los Angeles, CA (August 18, 2016) –Thanks to the success of a joint program instituted last summer by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and the Los Angeles Public Library, homeless people have received various forms of assistance.
In July, a total of 145 homeless people at nine LA City libraries engaged in services, an increase of 130 percent over the previous July.
These services can include shelter, motel vouchers, bus tokens, and direct connections to various providers that address mental and physical health needs and issues with substance abuse. The program also connects the homeless with the Veterans Administration and other agencies.
Since the program was launched, a total of 1,119 people have received services, including 47 who were provided shelter.
“Libraries welcome everyone and are a trusted source of information” said Jeanette Rowe, Director of Homeless Services for LAHSA. “They are a good location to deploy our staff.”
The program is administered in part by AmeriCorps, a federal non-profit that engages volunteers in community services.
Participating branches that reported data are the Central Library, Chinatown,
Eagle Rock, Hollywood-Durant, Little Tokyo, San Pedro, Venice, Watts, and Wilmington.
At the Central Library, located in downtown Los Angeles, teams of two, one from LAHSA and one from AmeriCorps, are deployed Mondays and Thursdays between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. They meet with homeless people informally, on the benches located in the garden area.
“The library is in the business of providing excellent service as a community resource to all Angelenos. We are happy to partner with LAHSA and AmeriCorps, organizations that we know will share their expertise and provide quality service to our patrons,” said City Librarian John F. Szabo.
From the conversations, staff are able to determine the immediate needs of clients, and in many cases provide direct assistance.
“This program is a critical step in our effort to end homelessness in Los Angeles County,” said Rowe.
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority is a joint powers authority of the City and County of Los Angeles, created in 1993 to address the problems of homelessness in Los Angeles County. LAHSA is the lead agency in the HUD-funded Los Angeles Continuum of Care, and coordinates and manages more than $132 million annually in federal, state, county and city funds for programs providing shelter, housing and services to homeless persons. For more information visit
A recipient of the nation’s highest honor for library service—the National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Los Angeles Public Library serves the largest and most diverse urban population of any library in the nation. Its Central Library, 72 branch libraries, collection of more than 6 million books, state-of-the-art technology accessible at and more than 18,000 public programs a year provide everyone with free and easy access to information and the opportunity for life-long learning.
Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority | 811 Wilshire Blvd., 6th Floor | Los Angeles, CA 90017