From Client to Advocate
Sonia spent much of her life mixed up with the wrong crowd, in and out of juvenile homes, and eventually in prison for drug abuse and petty crime. When her daughter was taken away, she thought she’d hit rock bottom, but becoming homeless stripped away any hope she had for the future. She slept outdoors for four years before her life finally began to change.
“I found out I was pregnant. It felt like it was a second chance to be a mother. I didn’t want to mess it up.”
A winter shelter immediately connected Sonia to LA Family Housing, and she began piecing her life back together. LAFH helped Sonia get an apartment and connected her to supportive services. She began the process to regain custody of her daughter. When she was ready, her case manager recommended Peer Advocate Training to increase her income. As a Peer Advocate, Sonia could help people with similar challenges access resources and services. In the past she’d been denied job opportunities because of her mistakes. In this new role, her life experience was exactly what she needed to succeed.
Today Sonia works for LA Family Housing, where she uses her strong sense of empathy and personal story to help people begin the journey from street to home.
“It’s awesome working for the same agency that helped me get off the streets. I’m helping others and showing them resources that can better their lives. It feels like coming home.”
Advocates for the Unsheltered
LAFH Outreach has long advocated for the City of Los Angeles to change how they conduct “cleanups,” the process of moving encampments for sanitation purposes. In the past, these cleanups were done with little notice and often resulted in lost documents and belongings, and a sense of despair among participants. When the City launched the Cleaning and Rapid Engagement (CARE) program, LAFH Outreach Teams were brought in to train city staff on how to work with our homeless neighbors. Now, CARE teams bring a more humane approach to cleanups by including Outreach and Engagement services throughout the entire process.