In 2015, Councilmember Krekorian began an innovative program in his district to create sustainable employment and housing for people experiencing homelessness, partnering with the Los Angeles Regional Initiative for Social Enterprise (LA:RISE). The program uses the LA:RISE partnership to connect housing providers located in the district with employment social enterprises, WorkSource Center partners, and retention providers. Too often, these critical services have not been coordinated to produce the best outcomes for individuals experiencing homelessness. The Council District 2 program aligns housing and employment opportunities and services to ensure the greatest likelihood that participants will remain housed and remain employed.LA:RISE unites City and County workforce agencies with employment social enterprises and private sector employers to help people overcoming high employment barriers get jobs, stay employed, and build a better life. LA:RISE has provided transitional employment to over 5,000 Angelenos over the last seven years.
Councilmember Paul Krekorian and LA:RISE are now expanding the program and providing additional jobs, training, and support in the district. The expanded program will bring these services directly to the facilities that Councilmember Krekorian has built for the unhoused in the district, including three tiny homes communities, two congregate shelters, and the San Fernando Valley Homeless Services Navigation Center, all of which were built by the city and are operated by our nonprofit partner Hope of the Valley. The participation of LA:RISE will augment Hope of the Valleys extraordinary services and help those experiencing homelessness find meaningful, well-paying jobs.