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.
In 2022, LA County saw a 4.1% increase in homelessness. City of Los Angeles homelessness increased by 1.7%. There are more than 69,000 unhoused people in LA County and more 41,000 in the City of Los Angeles. The overlooked fact is that 20,000 people were housed in LA County the year prior in 2021. Santa Monica only had a 1% increase in unsheltered homelessness. Santa Monica’s mandated housing programs and supportive programs work.
Meals on Wheels West is part of the solution to homelessness and helps with homeless prevention. Our Food and Shelter program has provided more than 17,000 meals to formerly unhoused individuals in Santa Monica, Venice, and Marina Del Rey. Since 2019, MOW West has seen a 78% increase in the number of Food and Shelter clients; 26% of our total number of clients are formerly unhoused. We also partner with numerous other agencies including Step Up on Second, St. Joseph Center, and Venice Community Housing.
Marianne was homeless for 16 years, most recently along Venice Beach. She never thought she would be in a predicament of being homeless. With the help of St. Joseph Center and Step Up, both Marianne and her dog Ginger who has been with her since living on the streets, were able to find and stay in permanent supportive housing at a Step Up building in Santa Monica. Meals on Wheels West has helped provide the health, wellness, and stability needed for Marianne to reintegrate back into society.
Client Testimonial: Charles