Los Angeles Mission - Los Angeles Mission would be a great place to start volunteering. Volunteers will help with setting up events, help with food services, and guest services. You will be working in the midst of the real “Skid Row” from Wall Street to San Pedro Street and much more.
Bring California HOME Act (AB 71) is a tax reform that will generate funds for affordable housing, shelter, development, housing navigation, case management and employment support by restoring 1980 CA corporate tax rates on companies making $5M profits per year. This is an increase from the current 8.84% to 9.6%. The bill would also attempt to close certain loop holes such as corporations who shift their profits overseas.
AB 71 is really important because the newly generated funding from taxing these big companies would all go towards helping out the community financially. With the new funding there would be no excuse to help fund organizations that focus on organizing housing and creating programs to help provide for homeless people. It would also allow for existing organizations to afford better equipment and renovations to older buildings.
The BASIC (Basic Assistance for Students in College) Act would reduce college student food and housing insecurity through the establishment of a federal grant program that would, among other things, provide free or subsidized secure sleeping arrangements and temporary housing; encourage students to participate in programs and receive services to meet basic needs (including federal housing assistance programs) as well as supporting students’ applications for those programs; and provide case management and training for students to maximize the public assistance that students receive to meet basic needs. No action has been taken on either version of the legislation by the committees of jurisdiction.
The BASIC Act is just as important because something that people may not understand about homelessness is that about 17% of college students have experienced homelessness. This is because they can’t afford the cost of rent along with the other costs of going to college. The BASIC Act would help quell the issue and significantly reduce the amount of college students that experience homelessness.