The 2012-2013 Winter Shelter Program will operate for 91 days between November 1, 2012 and March 14, 2013. A majority of the programs will begin December 1 and end March 1, while the others will operate from December 14 to March 14, and November 1 to January 30.

A total of 1491 beds will be available across the City and County of Los Angeles at 20 shelter sites. For a full listing of shelters with their specific start and end dates, and pick-up points, call the Winter Shelter Hotline at 1-800-548-6047, or click on the links below.

As in previous years, LAHSA is partnering with local nonprofit homeless service agencies to administer the day-to-day operations of each program site. This season, the winter shelters are being administered throughout the City and County by the following service providers:

Grace Resource Center (contracted by the City of Lancaster), East San Gabriel Valley Coalition for the Homeless, Volunteers of America of Los Angeles, Ascencia, Long Beach Rescue Mission, MJB Recovery, First To Serve, The Salvation Army Bell Shelter, LAMP Community Inc., Bridge To Home, and Eula’s House (contracted by Volunteers of America of Los Angeles). These agencies will operate sites in the cities and communities of Lancaster, Sylmar, Santa Clarita, Pomona, West Covina, Glendora, Hacienda Heights, Valinda, Rowland Heights, Glendale, Long Beach, Bell, Downtown Los Angeles, West Los Angeles, and South Los Angeles. In addition to temporary emergency shelter, each program location will provide meals and access to supportive services and housing assistance. LAMP Community Inc. will be operating a pilot program to specifically target chronically homeless individuals in the Downtown Los Angeles area.

Admittance to the shelters is available on a first-come, first-served basis for single individuals. Individuals needing emergency shelter can get free transportation to and from the shelter locations from any of the pick-up points throughout the City and County. Families seeking assistance at winter shelter locations will be connected to 2-1-1, the County’s free information and referral line, or may call 2-1-1 directly. 2-1-1 will offer families appropriate shelter and supportive service linkages through LAHSA’s Family Transitions Project (FTP). Launched last winter, the FTP is designed to rapidly connect homeless families to regional nonprofit agencies that specialize in delivering housing assistance and supportive services. Last year the FTP placed 584 families into housing, with 177 of them entering permanent housing. Building on the lessons learned and positive outcomes, the FTP allowed LAHSA to develop a new initiative called the Family Solutions Center (FSC) program. The program, which is set to begin in February 2013, will comprise six regional community partnerships (or collaborative “centers”) that include nonprofit, private and public entities. The centers will provide coordinated assessments, housing and supportive services to families year round as well as during the cold weather season.

LAHSA has administered the Winter Shelter Program (WSP) since 1994. The program is funded by the City and County of Los Angeles with the support of the California National Guard providing shelter sites at armories. The 2011-2012 WSP provided emergency shelter and services to 9,000 homeless individuals; 387 were placed into emergency, temporary, or permanent housing.

Below are links to program locations, transportation schedule and current non-availability dates for armories.

Shelter Locations and Transportation Schedule

Armory Shelter Dates of Non-Availability