OUR COMMUNITY LA
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Mission Statement
The Mission of Our Community LA is to leverage technology to connect anyone who is homeless or in need of help to free supportive services that can enhance their ability to make positive changes in their lives. We are committed to social justice and envision a world in which no one will be hungry, unhoused or unable to access supportive services during times of need.
About This Cause
OCLA was incorporated in 2011 to address the lack of easily accessible information available to those experiencing homelessness who were searching for helpful services. We believe no one should be hungry, unhoused, or without access to essential services simply because they do not know how to find help. Our first program, the print Directory was published in 2012 to help homeless youth to find supportive services using the Directory at local libraries. By 2014, in response to the disappearance of pay phones and the surge in availability of smart phones among homeless and at-risk populations, OCLA developed a mobile app as a simple way to break information barriers and offer free and easy access to services for those who were struggling. The WIN (What I Need) App prototype was launched in late 2015 to connect youth with available countywide services. By 2018, OCLA broadened its programming to include families and adults, and in 2020, the WIN App was expanded to senior services. That same year, the organization’s name was legally changed from Our Children LA to Our Community LA to reflect our broader service focus. In 2021, we launched the WIN App in Spanish to help the Latinx community access WIN’s service information, and in 2023, OCLA introduced a housing navigator service within the WIN App to enable users to determine if they qualify for HUD housing and help navigate the application process. OCLA's programs support youth, families, and adults who are homeless and/or resource insecure through the following: WIN “What I Need” App (OCLA’s Signature Program) Available 24/7, the WIN App empowers anyone in need to easily locate free local supportive services that can be accessed without a referral. It offers live connections to over 2,300 programs in 12 categories of services including food, shelter, healthcare, legal aid, jobs, transportation, education, money/government benefits, hotlines, crisis support, hygiene support, drop-in/access centers, overnight parking, and more. Search results include detailed summaries of each provider’s services and links to program emails, phone numbers, service addresses, directions, and agency websites. Users can narrow their search by geography, population demographic, or service category. Unique icons label services offered specifically for youth ages 12-25 and for seniors 55+. Users needing urgent help can tap the I Need Help icon to be instantly connected to crisis services. WIN also sends users announcements about helpful community events such as health or job fairs, food giveaways, holiday events, and more. As of November 30, 2024, over 33,000 searches have been conducted on the WIN App with 6,438 first-time downloads. In addition, staff have provided education on the WIN App at over 130 community events, including collaborative meetings with other providers, tabling at community resource fairs, meeting with nonprofits and school communities, and more. College Student Housing Eligibility and Advocacy Program OCLA’s College Student Housing Eligibility and Advocacy Program (CSHEAP) deepens the impact of the WIN App by improving the ability of students countywide to qualify and successfully apply for HUD housing and connect to social services. CSHEAP currently operates at Rio Hondo College, East LA College, Compton College, and LA Trade-Technical College with talks in progress to expand to Pasadena City College and West Los Angeles College. Between October 2023 and October 2024, 1,900 surveys were taken to the completion page, where users are notified as to whether they qualify for housing, including the specific housing category and advocacy tips for applying. In addition, three student WIN Ambassadors and OCLA’s Community Outreach Coordinator met with 20 campus staff at 8+ departments across the four colleges to train them on how to use the WIN App and Housing Tool as well as provide corresponding outreach materials for use when promoting to their students. Team WIN Team WIN is a part-time paid internship program for youth with the lived experience of homelessness. Launched in December 2018, a small cohort of youth have been trained to use social media, video, and direct outreach to promote awareness of the WIN App. In October 2024, Team WIN member Andria newly posted on Voices of Team WIN after her return from maternity leave, sharing her insights on her delivery experience and how she is adjusting to motherhood. In addition, dropping soon on OCLA’s YouTube page, Team WIN member Perla has developed three new Cooking with Pearl nutrition/cooking posts that are currently in the Team WIN editing room. In addition to training and mentoring, Team WIN members receive a part-time hourly stipend, meals during in-person training sessions, mentoring and skills training, transportation assistance, and an iPad for work-related activities. South LA Outreach South LA Outreach is a “boots on the ground, door-to-door” project raising trust and awareness about the WIN App in this high-need, underserved community. OCLA’s outreach worker is bilingual and a South LA native, enabling him to better navigate and communicate with underserved Spanish speaking residents of one of LA’s most impoverished neighborhoods. The Directory of Services for Homeless Youth and Adults in Los Angeles County The Directory lists supportive services that are free or offered on a sliding scale and can be accessed without prescreening or referral. It is available in the Los Angeles Unified School District, the LA City Library system, nonprofit service provider locations, community colleges, and on OCLA’s website. The Directory serves as a referral and resource guide for outreach workers, librarians, educators, and others who encounter and offer support to the homeless and housing insecure. At present, OCLA is planning to create a new, updated print Directory to be ready for distribution in late 2025 or early 2026. In partnership with The LA County Office of Education (LACOE), OCLA will manage updates to all content plus design and LACOE will fund printing.