Wellbeing Fund

A direct financial support fund providing cash stipends to Los Angeles homeless response sector workers to alleviate immediate financial needs and move toward living wage throughout the sector.

Geographic Scope: Los Angeles

Target Population: Homeless response sector workers, particularly the lowest-paid workers

Fund Distribution:

• Individual Worker Stipends: $896,966 distributed to 270 workers
• Organizational Support: $550,000 distributed to 26 partner organizations
• Total Individual Requests Received: $32 million from 5,430 applications

Application Categories: Workers chose from categories including:

• Debt relief
• Housing
• Education
• Health & wellness
• Transportation

Key Findings:

• Los Angeles homeless response workforce: ~8,000 positions (33% vacant)
• 5,430 worker applications received
• 44% of applicants earn $18-$25/hour
• 50% of Black workers earn $12-$18/hour
• Only 10% of applicants white but 23% of highest earners (>$100k)
• Wage disparities: Black employees 32% of applicants but 50% of lowest wage earners ($12-$18/hour)

Equity Approach:

• Prioritized funding requests from organizations with budgets under $10M
• Most led by BIPOC individuals and leaders with lived experience of homelessness
• Simple application process
• Selection process centered on equity

Related Initiatives: Part of broader "Investing in the Care and Retention of Workers in the Homeless Response Sector" partnership with Cedars-Sinai and United Way of Greater LA; includes Healing Justice programming and Living Wage report

Funding Partners: Cedars-Sinai, United Way of Greater Los Angeles

Application Process

Application Approach: Simple, accessible application process

Key Application Features:

• Easy to complete (as described by recipients)
• Allowed workers to reflect on their needs
• Workers selected from provided categories:
  • Debt relief
  • Housing
  • Health & wellness
  • Transportation
  • Education

Data Collection: Applications provided valuable data insights on:

• Worker wage levels and disparities
• Primary financial needs of workforce
• Demographic information for equity analysis

Note: Specific detailed application steps/requirements not provided in available materials