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Dear Neighbor,
As the new year quickly approaches, I want to remind you of the 2024 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count taking place January 23-25. Volunteers are needed to support the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and community partners in helping to capture the number of residents experiencing homelessness that are living on the street, in cars, RVs, and tents.
To join this impactful effort, you can register as a volunteer at TheyCountWillYou.org. The data collected helps inform our strategies to end homelessness and direct resources to the communities where it is needed most.
For residents in the unincorporated community of Lennox, my office will be organizing a count at our Lennox Community Office. To volunteer with Team Mitchell, register at bit.ly/Lennox-HC.
As we head into the holiday season, let us be mindful that for many people this can be a tough time of the year. If you can volunteer or give back in other ways, it is appreciated and the true purpose of the season.
Thank you and have a safe and joyful holiday.
Sincerely,
Holly J. Mitchell
Supervisor, Second District
Read Ahead:
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UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITY UPDATES |
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Fourth Pathway Home Resolution Addresses Homelessness Across LA County Districts
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Last week marked our fourth Pathway Home Initiative addressing the unhoused in our Florence-Firestone and Walnut Park communities in the Second District; and Huntington Park in the Fourth District represented by Supervisor Janice Hahn. This resolution highlights the widespread impact of homelessness throughout LA County and reflects extensive outreach efforts to build community trust and encourage participation, resulting in individuals agreeing to surrender their RVs and accept interim housing. Currently, the Second District faces the highest number of homelessness encampments with over 50 areas awaiting resolution. Through collaboration with the County’s Homelessness Initiative, we are working to expand Pathway Home into more neighborhoods and provide essential services–offering interim housing and permanent housing solutions for our unhoused neighbors. To learn more about the County’s Pathway Home Initiative visit homeless.lacounty.gov/pathway-home/
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Team Mitchell Spreads Holiday Cheer Through DPSS Adopt-A-Family Program
One of our favorite Team Mitchell activities is to present gifts to families in the Second District to help make their holidays brighter through the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) Adopt-A-Family program. Last year, over 1,000 generous residents provided gifts to over 1,300 families in need. Anyone can participate in this annual program. For more information about how to sign-up for next year and other volunteer opportunities with DPSS, visit dpss.lacounty.gov/en/community/volunteer.html.
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Celebrating the El Camino College Men's Soccer Team Championship Win
Congratulations to our El Camino College men’s soccer team for their historic win as the 2023 Junior College Division III State and National Champions! Shoutout to sophomores Marvin Gamez, Nicholas Baltazar, Donovan Palomares, and Jovanny Mejia, who were all named to the 2023 United Soccer Coaches Junior College All-American Team! Our office presented the team with scrolls in recognition of this tremendous accomplishment. We look forward to seeing continued success for these rising stars! Read more about the EC Warriors winning season here.
Addressing Food Insecurity in East Rancho Dominguez
We held our 45th and final food bank distribution for the year with LA Regional Food Bank and LA County Parks & Recreation at East Rancho Dominguez Park. Thanks to the dedicated volunteers we were able to serve 1,400 households. This year we reached over 49,000 households in the 2nd District. Food insecurity remains a significant issue for families throughout LA County. If you need food resources, please visit 211la.org/food-resources or call 2-1-1. My office has also compiled a list of additional resources in the Second District here: bit.ly/SD2-Food-Equity
Celebrating the Holidays in Lennox & Willowbrook Communities
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Team Mitchell and Lennox community members joined in holiday festivities with a posada, a tradition commonly celebrated in Latin America to spread holiday cheer. Thank you to our former intern Karla Vasquez for organizing this beautiful event that united the Lennox community and various surrounding organizations.
Every month the Willowbrook Senior Center hosts an educational event. For December we teamed up to host a “Cookies, Chocolate, and Chat Christmas Resource Fair” to bring our County departments and some holiday cheer to our vibrant seniors. A special thank you to the Centennial High School Band for performing holiday classics.
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The LA County Department of Aging & Disabilities provides support with accessing nutritional programs, caregiver services, adult protective services and more for the County’s expanding population of older and dependent adults.
For additional information and assistance, visit their website at ad.lacounty.gov or call 1-800-510-2020. To find a community and senior center near you, dial 1-800-689-8514. To report elder abuse, call 1-877-477-3646.
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JCOD CFCI Care Care Grants
The LA County Justice, Care, and Opportunities Department (JCOD) is accepting applications for Year 3 funding opportunities for LA County’s Care First Community Investment (CFCI) Care Grant program. CFCI Care Grants provide funding for direct community investment and alternatives to incarceration to community-based organizations across Los Angeles County. $175 million in grant money is available. For eligibility details, links to past webinars, updates, and application guidance, visit the Amity Foundation Third-Party Administrator (TPA) at amityfdn.org/tpa. The deadline to apply is January 5, 2024.
Child Support Services Virtual Appointments
This month, the LA County Child Support Services Department (CSSD) will highlight numerous ways you can access their services. Participants have the option to access their child support case information online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Additionally, one-on-one virtual appointments are now available, providing support from any location for parents and caregivers. For more information and to schedule a virtual appointment, visit cssd.lacounty.gov/
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SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE VIRTUAL COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSIONS
Spanish Session: Wednesday, December 27 | 5:00 p.m.
English Session: Thursday, January 4 | 5:00 p.m.
Virtual
LA County is considering a new law that will allow residents to legally operate sidewalk vending operations in the public right of way in unincorporated areas of the County. Thanks to SB 946 and SB 972, sidewalk vending is legal in LA County. Over the next few weeks, the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity will host community listening sessions to hear your opinions.
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LAHSA GREATER LA HOMELESS COUNT - VOLUNTEER OUTREACH
Tuesday, January 23 - Thursday, January 25
Various Locations
Register to volunteer for the 2024 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count on January 23, 24, and 25. Volunteers must be 18 years or older to participate in the Street Count. No one underage can volunteer in the upcoming Homeless Count.
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We encourage you to share this newsletter with your neighbors!
Sign up for the Second District Unincorporated Newsletter here.
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