Downtown Women's Center

Meet Beth Ann. She brings a sense of hope to those at the Downtown Women's Center (DWC), an organization that serves women and gender diverse individuals experiencing homelessness by providing safe housing and supportive services centered on wellness, employment, and advocacy. At DWC, Beth Ann finds an easy joy in changing someone’s day by extending kindness during a challenging time in their lives. Beth Ann has faced many difficult experiences in her life such as prior gang involvement, incarceration, substance abuse, and domestic violence that led to the loss of her leg and home. “This led to feelings of low self-esteem and self-worth. I thought I had nothing worth living for, and turned to drugs to hide my shame, guilt, and fears,” she shared. It was through a mutual friend that Beth Ann learned about the LA: RISE initiative at the Downtown Women’s Center, a chance to gain paid, on-the-job training in a supportive environment. Because of her life experiences and expertise, this was extremely important to Beth Ann, she wanted to give back by working with the community of individuals at the Downtown Women's Center. “I was most excited about meeting people where they are, finding common ground, and working together in finding out how to meet their needs.” In addition to receiving training and guidance in financial literacy, computer skills, and executive function skills, Beth Ann noted that her interactions with others at DWC gave her a level of confidence she hadn’t previously experienced. Beth Ann is now enrolled in college with big plans for her future. “I plan on majoring in Psychology. I am going to focus on staying in the human services field because of the strong love and compassion I have for others.” We're honored to partner with organizations like the Downtown Women’s Center that work to ensure that people have the resources and community they need to flourish. Go, Beth Ann! Learn more about the LA:RISE program here: https://redf.org/larise/ #larise

Summer has arrived and there's no better way to celebrate the warmth of the sun than with some good old fashioned midsummer wardrobe cleaning. Here are ten places to donate clothes and leave an impact in Los Angeles! Click the link below to purchase directly from our wishlist! https://lnkd.in/g4fdXBQB 1. American Cancer Society Discovery Shop⁠ 2. Door of Hope Women's Shelter ⁠ 3. Bridge Thrift ⁠ 4. My Friend's Place⁠ 5. Out of the Closet Thrift⁠ 6. The Midnight Mission⁠ 7. Downtown Women’s Center⁠ 8. Homeboy Threads⁠ 9. Project Ropa⁠ 10. Beacon House Thrift Shop ⁠

This month's volunteer spotlight is Devika Hazra, volunteer in the Learning Center and Day Center. According to Amie, our Workforce Development Program Manager, "Volunteer Devika Hazra brings energy and steadfast support to the Learning Center, always ready to jump into any role with enthusiasm and dedication. Her versatility and willingness to assist wherever needed make her an invaluable asset to the team and the learners." Click the link to learn more about how you can join our amazing community of volunteers https://lnkd.in/gY8hvwJ #volunteering #volunteer

Compassion in action: Let's come together to support our unhoused neighbors during this heatwave. ☀️ Provide water, cooling centers, sun protection, and resources. Every act of kindness makes a difference. More info at the link below https://lnkd.in/edvAWf3s #CommunityCare #HeatwaveHelp

Put your information management skills to work creating social good! Help DWC’s fast-paced development team effectively cultivate supporters by serving as our Donor Database Administrator. The Database Administrator understands the power of accurate, complete, and detailed data in informing good decision-making, appreciates finding ways to better use technology to meet needs, and enjoys continually building on their knowledge and expertise by implementing best practices in data entry and management. Click the link to apply now! https://lnkd.in/d46YWZyj #Hiring #DonorDatabase #Development #NonProfit

Thank you to everyone that came together at DWC’s newest affordable housing site in North Hollywood for an ice cream social! 🍦 Staff cooled off with summer treats and played bingo to get to know each other better.

We know progress is possible because supportive housing organizations helped rehouse 27,951people in a single year – an all-time record for LA County’s homeless response system. Greater investment in affordable housing is the key to reducing homelessness!

Today the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the City in the City of Grants Pass v. Johnson case, allowing cities to continue arresting or ticketing individuals for sleeping outside even when they have no safe alternative. If cities continue criminalizing homelessness, more people will be trapped in poverty. Survivors of domestic violence and those lacking secure, trauma-informed shelter need support, not criminalization. Take action with us today by requesting a federal funding expansion for shelters and safe haven programs for women and children.

Less than 2% of philanthropic dollars go to women’s and girls’ organizations. That must change! Read the powerful stories of organizations investing in women and girls in the inaugural @GivingListWomen 2024 Book. Click the link to the GLW website to browse the digital version of the #GivingListWomen 2024 Book! When women and girls thrive, we all thrive — and our planet does too. #MoreThan2Percent #GiveToWomenAndGirls https://lnkd.in/d7WtSPdb

A heartfelt thank you to CA State Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency Undersecretary Melinda Grant and Deputy Secretary Dhakshike Wickrema for visiting DWC! Your discussions on homelessness solutions and the impact of state funding are invaluable. Financial support from the state enables us to scale our successful model, helping women find and retain housing every day. With state funding, we're excited to expand our Permanent Supportive Housing by 97 units in the Skid Row Community. We deeply appreciate the legislature and Governor Newsom for reinstating crucial funding in the budget for our future endeavors!