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Dear Neighbor,
Youth homelessness continues to be a persistent issue in LA County. At the end of the 2023 school year, over 58,000 unhoused students were identified in LA County. That is 1 out of 20 students, which means with class sizes between 24 and 33 students, there is a likelihood that at least one student in any given class - at any given time - is experiencing homelessness.
In acknowledgment of National Homeless Youth Awareness Month and to raise awareness about the critical issue of youth homelessness, I joined Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond for “A Call to Action: Building a Better Future for California Students Experiencing Homelessness Summit” to address student homelessness and share the County’s ongoing efforts to end youth homelessness in our community. We know that housing ends homelessness. Our office supports and has partnered with Sunnyside 5, a transitional student housing development created in partnership with Sunnyside Baptist Church in South LA. They will provide student housing and on-site resources such as nutritious meals, mental health resources, continuous mentorship, and career development. This comprehensive approach ensures that our homeless students will have housing, thrive, and succeed.
I am proud to stand with the LA County Office of Education and city and state partners to address the homelessness crisis. We are also working with our partners through the County’s Pathway Home program to bring more people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing. This past week, we resolved an RV-focused encampment in the East Gardena community and placed 63 persons experiencing homelessness into interim housing. We will continue our sustained sense of urgency and commitment to collaboration to solve this crisis. Our work is far from done. Our youth and residents in our unincorporated communities depend on us to make a lasting impact and get this right.
Sincerely,
Holly J. Mitchell
Supervisor, Second District
Read Ahead:
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UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITY UPDATES |
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LA vs. Hate Mural Unvieling in Willowbrook |
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Team Mitchell had the honor of being part of the unveiling of the mural "It's All for You" by the talented artist Brittney S. Price. This event was the culmination of residents across Willowbrook and South LA coming together to pay homage to the history of their communities while working to create a brighter future.Thank you LA vs Hate, LA County Department of Aging & Disabilities, Brittney Price, and all the community partners involved in making this project and call-to-action possible. This week is United Against Hate Week (Nov 13-19), an excellent time to visit this mural outside the Willowbrook Senior Center and to learn more about other community events and resources available at LA vs. Hate: https://www.lavshate.org/united-against-hate-week
Watts-Willowbrook Farmers Market Reopening
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Ensuring our communities have access to fresh, healthy food is crucial. Team Mitchell participated in the grand reopening earlier this week of the Watts-Willowbrook Farmers’ Market, now open every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Parking Lot E of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Outpatient Center at 1680 East 120th Street. For details on vendors and available products, follow @wattswillowbrookfm on Instagram.
East Gardena Pathway Home RV Resolution
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Last week, we implemented another RV-focused Pathway Home operation in Unincorporated East Gardena by successfully placing 63 homeless individuals into interim housing and removing 34 RVs. Following the resolution, LA County’s Pathway Home initiative team is continuing to work on placements into permanent housing with our partners: the Homeless Outreach Program Integrated Care System (HOPICS) and St. Joseph’s Center. |
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Diane Edith Watson Week - November 12 - 19 |
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 We are honored to recognize Diane Edith Watson’s profound impact by declaring November 12-19 Diane E. Watson Week in LA County. A few of her historic achievements include becoming the first Black woman elected to the LAUSD School Board in 1975 and the California State Senate in 1978, where she authored groundbreaking legislation, including the California Birth Defects Monitoring Program Act and the Residential Care Facilities Act in 1993. She was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1999 to serve as US Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia. She was elected to the US House of Representatives in a special election in 2001. She was re-elected twice and retired in 2011. Thank you, Diane E. Watson, for your service to Los Angeles County, our state, and the nation.
Raising Awareness About Marina del Rey for All
I had the pleasure of joining the Del Rey Yacht Club in Marina del Rey, where I shared updates on the Marina del Rey for All initiative, which aims to create a more inclusive and vibrant Marina del Rey while supporting economic development and innovation in the area. One exciting project, located at the entrance of Burton Chace Park, is a new parking structure that will expand the number of available parking spaces and alleviate the parking burden from the numerous year-round events hosted by the County and the Department of Beaches and Harbors. I look forward to sharing more updates on our progress.
Water Bottles Refilling Stations Installed
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Last week, Team Mitchell joined LA County Parks staff and the West Basin Municipal Water District in the Second District to celebrate the installation of water bottle filling stations at Del Aire, Lennox, and Alondra Parks. The water stations were made possible through a grant from the West Basin Municipal Water District to offer residents in our unincorporated communities a convenient, safe source of reliable drinking water and to help eliminate the use of throwaway plastic water bottles in our parks.
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EBT skimming has been reported throughout Los Angeles County and involves a device that is placed on Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) or payment machines to steal Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card information and benefits. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services wants you to know about EBT card skimming and offers ways to protect yourself from this type of theft.
EBT skimming can also occur when a plastic mask is placed on a retailer’s payment machine to steal EBT card information and benefits.
Simple Steps to Stop Skimming:
- Before you swipe your card, check the device! If the machine looks broken, rattles, or does not have a protective seal - don’t use it.
- Change your Personal Identification Number (PIN) every month - to prevent thieves from stealing your personal information, benefits, and funds.
- Check your benefits balance regularly by logging onto BenefitsCal.com and report any questionable activity.
To report EBT skimming contact DPSS at (866) 613-3777 or call the California EBT Customer Service Help Line at (877) 328-9677. For more information on EBT skimming, click here.
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West Carson Community Benefits Proposal - Application Open
 In partnership with LA County Public Works and the LA County Department of Regional Planning, our office invites West Carson community residents, business owners, and community stakeholders to submit community improvement ideas for use of the $300,000 Bridge Point improvement fund. For more information and to submit your proposal, fill out the online form on our website, send us an email, or print out the form and send it in by mail. Submissions are open until November 30, 2023.
For questions, please email Daisy De La Rosa at Ddelarosa@planning.lacounty.gov or Jesus Herrera at Jherrera@planning.lacounty.gov
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JACQUELINE AVANT CHILDREN & FAMILY CENTER RIBBON CUTTING
Wed, Nov 15 | 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Jacqueline Avant Children & Family Center
1741 East 120th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059
Join Team Mitchell for a community festival and resource fair featuring health screenings, giveaways, FREE refreshments, children’s activities, live entertainment and more.
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HARVEST FESTIVAL AT LA COUNTY PARKS
Thurs, Nov 9 - Sat, Nov 18
Various Locations
Join LA County Parks for some Fall fun! This year Harvest Festival returns with cultural celebrations, including food tasting, dancing, music, crafts, a children’s story corner, and family games.
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We encourage you to share this newsletter with your neighbors! If you aren’t already subscribed to the Second District Unincorporated Newsletter, sign up here.
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