Homelessness/Unhoused Updates for GCC
Did you know, in 2023, there was a 9% rise in homelessness? That means some 75,000 people do not have consistent and safe housing in Los Angeles County.
Our students, colleagues, and neighbors are included in these numbers. These updates are helpful resources to support and provide housing security to our community:
GCC Event: Resources Available to Student Experiencing Housing Insecurity
On Thursday, October 24th, Geography Professor Ebenezer Kofi Okyere Peprah invited several local organizations to GCC BV 101 to share their resources for supporting the unhoused in both Glendale and Los Angeles County.
These include:
- Kanoff the Streets, Inc., Prof. Peprah's non-profit for housing insecurity with a variety of programs. Contact: Kofi Peprah, email: peprah.kofi@gmail.com, phone: (626) 233-6547.
- Ascencia, a Glendale and Los Angeles County organization that provides housing. They also have a local access center with drop-in services and referrals. Free services include tele-psychiatry, therapy, substance abuse case managers, etc. Contact: Zana Hundal, Housing Case Manager, zhundal [at] ascenciaCA.org, phone: 818-246-7900 ext 111, cell: 818-626-0518.
- YWCA Glendale & Pasadena offers 45-day emergency shelter for intimate partner violence, childcare, rental assistance, furniture, legal assistance, etc. Folks in need can come in or call general line to get appointment and get connected to various resources. For those fleeing or in emergency, call the YWCA emergency crisis hotline and get connected immediately: 888-999-7511.
- African Communities Public Health Coalition is an Los Angeles-based Immigration and mental health support center. They support the acculturation process for migrants, specifically those African and Caribbean descent. They are open and welcome to undocumented or unaccompanied students and work to address housing insecurity and trauma from travel and the immigration process. They are currently piloting a Women's house with 13 bedrooms for up to 6 months (no families). Contact email: info [at] africancoalition.org, phone: 213-909-0985
- GCC's Hispanic Serving Initiatives Office is a grant-funded GCC office working through collaborations to support Latinx students and address basic needs. They organize support projects for all students including Latinx including the welcome center renovation, updates to the MCEC Center, and this year's HSI BBQ. Upcoming event is the OxFam hunger banquet for 100 students on nov 26th. There are also Adelante Meetups to create a sense of belonging for students and culturally responsive learning. Contact David Crawford, Alice Martinez, and team is in in San Rafael Building 244.
- GCC Cares (Andre Manukian) is GCC's basic needs resource center and contact. They offer a variety of support services and referrals to students including gift cards for food and goods, GoPass for transportation, and GCC Cares Market for food. Contact: cares [at] glendale.edu.
- Glendale Salvation Army Shower Program provides mobile showers Mondays and Fridays (excluding holidays), 8 AM to 11 AM at 801 South Central Avenue, Glendale, CA 91204. Contact: phone: 818-246-5586.
- Burbank Homeless Storage and Help Center offers free storage to unhoused individuals via a 60-gallon bin. Access is first come, first serve, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 3 PM. Contact Streetplus by phone at 818-397-3798.
