2007 Campus-Community Partnerships
Public Education on
Women's Homelessness Project
| Awardee: | Downtown Women's Center |
| Partner: | Jacqueline Leavitt UCLA Department of Urban Planning |
Abstract:
In Los Angeles—the homeless capital of the nation—women are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population, and in the downtown area, an estimated 4000 women are without a home each night. As the only organization exclusively serving homeless women on Skid Row, for 29 years, the Downtown Women’s Center (DWC) has been working to increase affordable housing options for chronically homeless women through our permanent affordable Residence and drop-in Day Center. Building upon a seven-year-long partnership with UCLA’s School of Public Affairs, DWC is now working with long-time stakeholder Professor Jacqueline Leavitt, Ph.D., to develop the Women’s Homelessness Educational Exchange Program. This unique program will develop learning materials and conduct 24 educational workshops at 12 local schools and community centers—targeted to students and community groups interested in women’s issues—throughout Los Angeles to teach the effectiveness of permanent affordable housing as a solution for ending homelessness among women. In total, the project will reach approximately 11,500 citizens through workshops, events, and media. The inclusive team will consist of Dr. Leavitt, DWC staff, a graduate student researcher, educational and design consultants, and a team of volunteers.
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