LOS ANGELES—A new youth development program aimed at connecting low-income college students, who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, to services and employment opportunities in the northwest San Fernando Valley is in the works, as the Los Angeles City Council Feb. 7 took the first steps to bring it online.
Councilors voted 14–0 to approve $111,000 to fund the Peer-to-Peer Homeless Youth Ambassadors effort. Additionally, city officials authorized city departments to solicit proposals, covering workforce development services, that would take effect for up to three years, starting at the initiation of the program.
Councilwoman Heather Hutt was absent during the vote.
The council’s action was initiated by a motion introduced by Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, who represents the 7th District, which covers the North Valley, and Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez.
According to the motion, Ms. Rodriguez partnered with the Youth Development Department on acquiring a federal community grant that would establish the L.A. Youth Ambassador Program.
The nine-month pilot project will provide 30 students with lived experience with $1,000 monthly stipends to work part-time while maintaining full-time college enrollment. These students are expected to serve as peer navigators—conducting outreach, identifying system gaps, and providing service referrals to homeless and housing-insecure youth of the community.
An estimated 1,050 youth are intended to benefit from the program and connect to housing, education, training, and employment support services.
The program would be set to begin sometime after the city finalizes a contract with a service provider.
