United Way HomeWalk 2010

Building public will to end homelessness in Los Angeles

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation supports the efforts of United Way of Greater Los Angeles to educate the public and key stakeholders on how to most effectively end homelessness in Los Angeles. Through HomeWalk, an annual 5k family walk event, United Way mobilizes thousands of people to raise awareness about the personal and societal costs of homelessness—and to raise funds to address the issue. HomeWalk participants and donors receive regular updates throughout the year about policy issues and what they can do to advocate for solutions to homelessness.

United Way is also working to mobilize the business community to advocate for solutions to homelessness in Los Angeles, primarily through the creation of permanent supportive housing for the chronically homeless. In 2009, United Way worked with the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce to establish the Business Leaders Task Force on Homelessness. The goal of the Task Force is to take a leadership role in promoting permanent solutions to chronic homelessness in partnership with public sector and civic leaders, both local and national. The Task Force comprises 23 business leaders who represent the legal, banking, and retail industries and are committed to working on this issue for at least two years. In November 2010, the Task Force released the Home For Good action plan to provide a blueprint for the community-wide implementation of research-based solutions that are both effective in ending homelessness and represent the most efficient use of public and private resources in the Los Angeles region.

To further build public will, the Hilton Foundation supports PATH Partners' efforts to engage and mobilize the diverse faith leaders and communities in Los Angeles County to advocate for policies and programs to end homelessness. Through their Our Faith Matters initiative, PATH Partners has created the Interfaith Leadership Council, made up of 37 influential leaders form a variety of faith traditions, to speak out on issues related to homelessness with a focus on promoting solutions that address the root causes of homelessness.

Results

  • More than 5,000 people participated in the November 7, 2010 HomeWalk, raising over $300,000 for community organizations working to house the homeless. Participants also signed letters to their elected officials, urging them to reallocate resources to permanent supportive housing.
  • Dozens of leaders pledged with their signatures to implement the Los Angeles Business Leaders Task Force on Homelessness, Home For Good, with the key goal to end chronic and veteran homelessness in five years.

Resources