On April 30, over 30 representatives of foundations from all over the country took time out from the Council on Philanthropy Conference to participate in a walking tour of Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. This tour was organized by the Conrad N. Hilton and Weingart Foundations, and co-sponsored by the Durfee Foundation and Funders Together to End Homelessness.
As part of the orientation to Skid Row, the Los Angeles Poverty Department shared one of their dramatic readings highlighting the life and times of people who have devoted their lives to working on Skid Row. Staff members, tenants and clients joined the foundation leaders on tours of supportive housing and a unique Federally Qualified Health Center that has created a medical home for this community. One of the foundation participants shared, “This is what makes me ashamed of our country while at the same time it is what makes me proud.”
There is much to be done, but we feel proud that over 4,000 units of supportive housing now exist in this community where people who have felt abandoned now are discovering recovery, healing and hope. CSH is proud to have contributed financial and technical assistance to the creation of over 1,500 of these units.
