Helping Hands Project

A special fund for students in need through LAVC Foundation

LAVC Helping Hands Project

The Helping Hands Project is a special fund under the LAVC Foundation that supports LAVC students experiencing homelessness and/or food insecurities.

Please contact our counselor Liliana Fanelli at FANELLLV@LAVC.EDU for our application process.

For immediate assistance and resources, dial 211

Connect with the Peer Navigator Program.

This program aims to connect community college students who are experiencing homelessness or at-risk of homelessness with resources that can end their housing crisis.

The objectives of the program include:

Connecting students to community resources and the Coordinated Entry System (CES)

• Improving linkages between colleges and homeless services providers across Los Angeles County
• Streamlining the CES referral process
• Enhancing communication and partnerships

For more information, please contact:
Christian Aprahamian @email

The Village Family Services

6801 Coldwater Canyon Ave Suit. 1E
North Hollywood, CA 91605

Additional resources:
For a list of Continuum of Care / Point of Contact for Unhoused Individuals, please visit the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing agency website at https://www.bcsh.ca.gov/housing/index.html

https://www.bcsh.ca.gov/hcfc/documents/coc_poc.pdf

For Los Angeles City and County CoC CA-600

Elsa Fraire Contreras (213) 233-4761 efcontreras@lahsa.org or altnernate contact Peter Lynn (213) 683-3333 @email

The CalFresh Program, federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), issues monthly electronic benefits that can be used to buy most foods at many markets and food stores. The CalFresh Program helps to improve the health and well-being of qualified households and individuals by providing them a means to meet their nutritional needs. Applicants must meet income and eligibility guidelines.

CalFresh, http://www.benefitscal.com

LAVC Helping Hands Project

The Helping Hands Project is a special fund under the LAVC Foundation that supports LAVC students experiencing homelessness and/or food insecurities. These students typically do not have immediate access to financial aid or qualifies for programs on and off campus. HHP is run by volunteers and is sponsored through grants provided by the CalWORKs program at LAVC.

HHP was established in 2003, when staff was alerted to assist a homeless student living on-campus with her young child. Many departments worked in collaboration to obtain resources and assist her in securing housing and other necessities for her child. Over time, many other students were referred experiencing similar issues. As a result, the departments decided to develop a fund through the LAVC Foundation that would provide immediate access to resources.

HHP has grown to include representatives from many on-campus departments, programs, and community-based organizations. We welcome new committee members, volunteers, and donors!

The issue of homelessness and food insecurities on our campus has become a desperate matter. We find that many of our students are seeking housing, food, transportation, books, supplies, clothing, toiletries, access to showers, and other needs. HHP hosts fundraisers and food drives several times a year. Donation of funds are accepted year-round through the LAVC Foundation and staff are actively seeking grant opportunities.

Students are referred to HHP from staff on-campus. Upon referral, a needs assessment is conducted and students are provided with resources and connections to community-based organizations. While HHP cannot provide housing, it has created strong partnerships with organizations such as The Village Family Services, Hope of the Valley, LA Family Housing, MEND, and local shelters to meet this need. Additionally, HHP works with programs and organizations such as CalFresh, LA Regional Food Bank, Food Forward, and local food pantries to support students facing food insecurities. Collaboration between programs ensures that services are not duplicated.

Students must to be enrolled in 12 units
Students must completed at least one semester successfully in LAVC before applying for HHP services\support
Students must have 2.5 GPA for HHP financial assistance
All LAVC students are welcome to access HHP resources, such as housing and food insecurities referrals and community partnership
Students must have 3.00 GPA and enrolled in their major courses to receive laptop rentals ( only 10 available to 10 students each semester)
Students with 3.00 GPA are eligible to apply for U-PASS transportation assistance (only 5 passes available to five students each semester)
Students with 3.00 GPA and exhausting all available LAVC departments resources (EOPs, CARE, TRIO, Black Scholars, Foster Youth) are eligible to receive $300 textbook voucher per semester upon referral from counseling office (only 7 vouchers will be available to 7 students each semester)

HHP continues to strive because of the support of the dedicated committee members, compassionate volunteers, faculty, staff, community partners, and most importantly, regular donations. HHP does not have enough resources with the influx of students it’s currently experiencing as of recent. HHP needs a sustainable method of income, regularly stocked food pantry, toiletries, blankets, towels, and clothing.

HHP strives to be a valuable resource for LAVC students experiencing homelessness and/or food insecurities. Our vision is to be a temporary bridge that allows students to successfully complete their educational goals and have access to resources. Through support and commitment, HHP endeavors to be the first program on campus to tackle and reduce incidences of homelessness and food insecurities on campus.

For Inquiries, please email calworks@lavc.edu.

If you would like to contribute to our Helping Hands Project Foundation fund: Please visit: www.lavcfoundation.org
Select Helping Hands Project fund!