LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Five hundred homeless families with students attending Los Angeles Unified School District campuses will receive Section 8 housing vouchers under a program announced today by the city and district.
“For decades, our schools have been overlooked in this fight, and today is an important first step as we work to ensure students and their families are met with opportunities and not obstacles,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said.
The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles will provide the vouchers to families across the city over the next two years.
Fifty families in the northeastern San Fernando Valley received vouchers under a pilot program that began following reports that nearly 25% of the student population at Telfair Elementary School was homeless or suffering from housing insecurity.
The success of that pilot program led to Wednesday's announcement that the program is being expanded to 500 families.
“This program is very important to the Housing Authority,” HACLA President and CEO Doug Guthrie said. “The fight against homelessness in Los Angeles is a joint effort, and today is proof of the power of partnership.”
The program will also provide “wraparound services” to LAUSD families, including delivery of basic needs such as food and clothing.
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