South LA Collaborative Convenes Interfaith Summit On Transition Age Youth Homelessness

LOS ANGELES - May 14, 2013 - PRLog -- (Los Angeles, CA) – The South Los Angeles Transition Age Youth and Foster Care Collaborative  and several other groups will host its 1st South Los Angeles Transition Age Youth Matter Interfaith Summit on Thursday, May 16th, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m (doors open at 8 a.m.), at Holman United Methodist Church, 3320 Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, 90018.  The purpose of the event is to introduce the state of transition age youth (TAY) homelessness in South Los Angeles and mobilize the interfaith community to be partners in intervention and prevention strategies. Summit activities include a homeless report by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority,  presentations on employment opportunities, strategies on gang prevention, and a call for action.  

“We see this summit as a first of many opportunities to bring awareness about homeless transition age youth in South LA.  We want our faith community to walk away compelled and inspired to do something,” said Gerald Thompson, Chair of the South Los Angeles Homeless TAY and Foster Care Collaborative.

South Los Angeles has the second highest concentration of homeless youth; and many at-risk due to extreme poverty.  The community is developing a system of care framework that promotes social, economic, and personal mobility for youth to transition into adulthood successfully.

“Our places of worship can be sanctuaries of safety and dignity and centers of wellness and wholeness for persons who are homeless, especially transition age youth.  We are engaging the ecumenical and inter-faith community to realize the impactful and meaningful roles they can play to prevent and end transition age youth homelessness,” shared Pastor Kelvin Sauls of United Methodist Church and newly appointed Commissioner to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Faith institutions are a repository of significant resources. Applying these significant resources in relevant ways can have transformative results. “Communities of faith are an integral part of our social service safety net, and we need them at the table to ensure a full menu of options to end and prevent homelessness in our District,” said Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

The event is being sponsored by Community Coalition, Holman United Methodist Church, Pathway To Your Future, Positive Results Corporation, Sanctuary of Hope, Sign With Me, Tessie Cleveland Community Services, Brotherhood Crusade, The California Wellness Foundation, The Right Way Foundation, Toyota, Virtuous Woman, Ruach Community Church, and Mack Enterprises Unlimited.

The South Los Angeles Transition Age Youth and Foster Care Collaborative is coalition of business, government, nonprofits, and residents working to prevent and end homelessness for South Los Angeles transition age youth.