Please Upgrade Your Browser.

From their website, “United Friends of the Children empowers current and former foster youth on their journey to self-sufficiency”. For former foster youth and probation youth in need of housing support, their Pathways program offers 18-26 month long housing with comprehensive support. If you are interested in academic support, United Friends of the Children has an education support program that you can participate in from the start of 7th grade until the end of college. Programs include field trips, college counseling, tutoring, and grants.

Sanctuary of Hope is a nonprofit organization operating in South LA and the South Bay which  provides housing, educational support and financial assistance to youth between the ages of 16-25. Additionally, they work to strengthen families through family therapy and conflict resolution for youth trying to reconnect after living in a difficult home situation or running away. The organization also has access to wi-fi, transportation services, and college prep programs.

The LA LGBT Center describes itself as a “safe and welcoming place where individuals of all ages can find help, as well as hope and support, when they need it most. This huge organization offers many programs for the community it serves. In addition to resources for housing, employment, and education, there are opportunities for LGBT youth to find mentors. The LGBT Center also houses a comprehensive health clinic and legal services.

Youth of Promise serves youth in Northwest Pasadena and West Altadena who have been affected by poverty, violence, gang life, and incarceration. They provide youth with comprehensive services like tutoring, life skill workshops, college mentorship and field trips. The goal of this organization is to help local youth through high school and into college.

1736 Family Crisis Center has responded to the growing needs of victims of domestic violence, runaway and homeless youth, victims of human trafficking, homeless families, homeless and at-risk Veterans, unemployed adults and youth, and other low-income community members in need of assistance. We are dedicated to providing comprehensive rehabilitative programs that are managed by licensed therapists, social workers, attorneys and other professional staff. Men, women, children and families can access life-saving support 24 hours a day through five shelters, five community service centers, various community-based offices and co-locations and five crisis and suicide hotlines. We are ready to help kids, families, and Veterans so that they can permanently escape the worst possible conditions of poverty, homelessness and violence.

The FamilySource Centers (FSC) are collaborative one-stop community centers designed to assist low-income residents in the City of Los Angeles to become self-sufficient by increasing family income and academic achievement for youth and adults. FSCs offer services including; counseling, parent education, employment assistance, legal aid, financial literacy classes, adult education, tutoring & homework help, benefits screening, recreational & cultural activities, youth leadership development and community events.

As part of Hillsides, the Youth Moving On peer resource center is open to transitional age youth 16-25 in Pasadena. This center provides free hot lunch and dinner, with an up-to-date schedule on their website. There are also free laundry, showers, and wi-fi in addition to a full schedule of classes. These classes include cooking, LGBT support, and us! You can find Million Little’s Creative Mindfulness program at Youth Moving On every Wednesday from 1-3.

Peace4Kids offers services for current and former foster youth in South LA. Their Core Saturday Program reunites separated siblings in foster care ages 4-18 with creative and educational support, field trips, and life skills. During the lunchtime of each Saturday program the organization hosts a pop-up library that allows each participant to leave with a book. Foster youth may also engage in this organization’s leadership and mentorship programs. And for transitional age youth, there are classes on money management, interpersonal skills and other important skills for adulthood.

The Chinatown Service Center is a community-based organization that also offers services to speakers of English Vietnamese, Spanish, and Khmer amongst many Chinese dialects. Their three major areas are career resources, health services, and social services for youth, families, and the elderly. The CSC Youth Center hosts academic and career programs, volunteer and leadership opportunities, and cross-cultural immersion programs for Asian and Latino cultures.