The Village Family Services proudly hosted its first summit on October 30th, bringing together over 150 service providers, advocates, government officials, young people and supporters. “Summit 2024: Strategies For Unhoused Youth” was more than just a successful gathering; it was a collective call to action. For those who joined us, the energy in the room was invigorating—every story, panelist and shared experience drove home the message that supporting our youth requires more than resources: it requires heart, dedication, and a willingness to listen.
The day began with remarks from Councilmember John Lee of District 12 along with leaders at The Village. Dr. Daniel Siegel then gave an insightful keynote on the role of relationships in shaping the human mind, a reminder that the connections we build are as impactful as any service we provide. For youth facing homelessness, Dr. Siegel explained that a feeling of genuine connection can be life-changing. His insights about achieving mental stability through integration—achieved by nurturing empathy, flexibility, and coherence—struck a chord with many of us. His reminder that trauma, neglect, or lack of support can affect development made it clear why youth-centered care is essential.
“Here is the take home message: When relationships with attachment figures are integrated—here is the weird and simple thing—the brain becomes integrated. And when you have an integrated brain, you have a resilient mind. So, that is the secret pathway.” — Dr. Siegel
When the Youth Panel took the stage, they brought raw honesty and critical insight to the conversation. Each of the 3 panelists shared personal journeys that underscored the struggles of navigating a system that too often overlooks their voices. Moderator Olga Flores, longtime Director of Housing Services at The Village, kept the dialogue flowing, validating each story as panelists like Grant shared his experience of sleeping in his car, a harsh reality that many of us will never fully grasp. His message was direct: youth need to be seen as individuals, not just clients. Rosie added to this sentiment, highlighting how each referral often felt like another closed door and asking for more accessible resources in everyday spaces like schools and libraries. “We know what we need,” she told us, a powerful reminder of the importance of including youth in decision-making.
The Service Providers Panel, moderated by The Village’s Senior Director of Outpatient Mental Health Alejandro Soria, took a candid look at the challenges from the frontlines. Dexter O’Connell, Director of Youth Policy & Advocacy at Safe Place for Youth, made a passionate call for deeper collaboration across agencies to serve these youth better. Erin Casey, LCSW, Director of Programs at My Friend’s Place, emphasized that cultural competence and intersectional approaches need to be filled for services to reach everyone effectively. Their collective message was clear: ending youth homelessness will require reimagining our roles, challenging old structures, and being willing to advocate beyond our comfort zones.
The day closed with an uplifting message from Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, Chair of the LA County Board of Supervisors, who spoke with a heartfelt commitment to bridging the gap between policy and personal connection. Her words were a call to action for each of us: young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they need our commitment today. Supporting them takes all of us, showing up in ways big and small.
“Los Angeles County has an important role to play, of course, because more often than not our transitional age youth are faced with the prospect of possible homelessness, coming out of what is supposed to be a supportive system. And the idea that you flip a switch at a particular age and suddenly everything is illuminated and everything is presented in such a way where you can just go off on your own is just not how the world works. It’s just not how the world works.” — Supervisor Horvath
We are grateful for the in inspiration we felt, and the new ideas and strategies we learned to be more collaborative and compassionate as we work together to end youth homelessness. The stories, the calls to action, and the shared purpose remain with us. For each of you who attended, and to all of our panelists (especially the youth participants!), thank you for bringing your presence and support to this event and this important issue.
This event was generously sponsored by Kaiser Permanente.
