Food and Shelter
As formerly homeless people are housed, MOW West delivers healthy meals and referrals to additional social services that help maintain stability, health & wellness.
Impact
The Food and Shelter program delivers meals and stability. It provides nutritious home-delivered meals and vital Wellness Checks to formerly unhoused individuals now living in permanent or supportive housing. With more than 20% of our clients enrolled in Food and Shelter, we’re helping ensure that those transitioning out of homelessness are supported in staying housed and healthy.
Our meals act as a rent subsidy, relieving the financial burden of food so they don’t have to choose between paying for groceries or rent. Our services also reduce medical and transportation costs, reinforcing long-term housing security and well-being. Meals on Wheels West is proud to be part of a system that works. According to the 2024 Homeless Count, Santa Monica saw a 6% reduction in homelessness, and the broader Westside region experienced a 20% decrease. In addition, LA County and the City of LA have reported reductions in homelessness for the past two years in a row, evidence that supportive services like ours make a measurable difference.
The Food and Shelter program works hand in hand with our Community Connections Friendly Calling program to offer holistic support. We recognize that formerly unhoused individuals often face complex challenges as they transition into stable housing. Through Community Connections, clients receive weekly Friendly Calls from trained volunteers who provide social connection and connect them to more than 50 partner agencies offering support with case management, mental health, crisis intervention, healthcare, housing resources, and more.