Higher Education Homeless Work Group

Published April 28, 2023 | Last updated November 12, 2024 | 11,151 total views

Background: Welcome to the landing page for HEHW. This group was formed in 2017 and began listening sessions with the community in identifying gaps and needs for students. In 2019, the Campus Peer Navigators were created due to advocacy from HEHW and community members. In 2020, consultants launched an in-depth community planning process culminating In the HEHW Strategic Plan. This document details the planning and interviewing processes that led to the development of a united vision, and shared goals and strategies to reach this vision. There is a subcommittee for each Strategic Goal, shared applied learning, data collection, and advocacy to better coordinate services for students and expand resources. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, HEHW’s regular facilitation was paused as LAHSA staff were leveraged to oversee the implementation of Project Home Key, an intervention that sheltered thousands of covid vulnerable unhoused neighbors, however the education work of Campus Peer Navigators and other HEHW stakeholders continued. In 2021 HEHW re-launched quarterly meetings, continuing the work of the Strategic Plan, participating in YHDP community planning, and more. On this page, you will find notes from the HEHW sub-committees, community training resources, and an updated student housing vacancy list. In addition, you’ll find information on housing resources for folks pursuing vocational options.

VISION A future for Los Angeles where basic needs are never a barrier to college students’ success.

MISSION Address student homelessness and basic needs insecurity by strengthening Los Angeles County’s higher education systems and community resources.

STRATEGIC GOALS OVERVIEW The Higher Education and Homelessness Workgroup (HEHW) has prioritized three strategic goals for the next three years. These goals, along with their supporting strategies, serve as a guide for alleviating student homelessness through HEHW’s unique connections to institutions of higher education, service providers, government, and the students themselves. With these three goals serving as the overarching targets, HEHW will continuously monitor and update the plan’s underlying strategies as they are enacted, while being prepared to adapt to changing circumstances in the service of achieving these goals

For Resources for Students such as information on housing please click here

HEHW Meeting Schedule The next meeting is TBD. Stay tuned for the next Problem-Solving training for non-hmis users!

Please Subscribe Me to HEHW to connect more with this work group.

Data

Improve Data Collection, Sharing, and Usage to Better Assess Students’ Needs, Strengths, and Outcomes

Advocacy

Utilize Public Policy Advocacy to Increase the Resources and Reduce the Barriers to Student Support

Shared Applied Learning

Strengthen Institutional and Community Organizational Responses by Facilitating Interorganizational Learning and Collaboration

Problem-Solving

Problem-Solving is an intervention, not a program, that helps those experienceng homelessness identify possible soutions to help exit or shorten thier housing crisis. This intervention strategy can be coupled with flexible funds if applicable. HEHW is dedicated to spreading awarness of this interventnion and access to funds to educational partners. The following colleges and student housing providers have a staff member trained in the problem-solving intervention with access to LAHSA Problem-Solving Assistance Funds: