FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Village Family Services Receives $75,000 Grant from the John N. Calley Foundation through the LA2050 Grant Challenge
Funding supports critical services for unhoused and at-risk youth in the San Fernando Valley
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (October [XX], 2025) — The Village Family Services (The Village) has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the John N. Calley Foundation as part of the 2025 LA2050 Grant Challenge.
The 2025 Grant Challenge theme, “LA Together,” celebrates the collective resilience of Angelenos, including the city’s unhoused young people who demonstrate strength and determination every day. More than 21,000 Angelenos cast nearly 140,000 votes Los Angeles residents voted on the top issues that matter most to them, with “Affordable Housing and Homelessness” emerging as one of 12 focus areas for participating foundations.
“To be selected as one of the 55 recipients of the LA2050 Grant Challenge is a tremendous honor and speaks to the city’s commitment to ending youth homelessness,” said Hugo Villa, LMFT, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of The Village Family Services. “That commitment mirrors our own. We will not stop our work until all young people have the safety, security, and stability they deserve.”
“Our Drop-In Center is often the first safe place a young person has experienced in years,” said Claudia Zamora, Drop-In Center Manager. “This grant will help us continue providing not only food, showers, clothing, and mental health support, but also a sense of belonging and hope. Every day we see the difference it makes when youth realize they are not alone.”
The grant will support ongoing programs for unhoused youth and youth at risk of homelessness through The Village’s Drop-In Center (DIC) in North Hollywood. The DIC is one of the only youth-specific facilities of its kind in the San Fernando Valley, and one of the few in the nation co-located with a Federally Qualified Health Center (Valley Community Healthcare).
Open seven days a week, the DIC provides meals, clothing, showers, laundry, internet access, and case management. Youth also receive guidance on employment, education, and health and wellness. The Center operates on a “low-demand, high-tolerance” model, creating a safe space where youth can engage without judgment and on their own terms. Staffed by Peer Support Specialists—many with lived experience in homelessness, foster care, or recovery—the DIC fosters trust, respect, and empowerment. Licensed clinicians are also on site to address trauma, mental health, and emotional well-being.
With this generous gift, and continued collaboration with other nonprofit and foundation partners, The Village will ensure unhoused youth continue to have seamless access to comprehensive services and connection to stable housing, including The Village’s own transitional housing facility.
Of this new partnership, Shawn Kravich, Executive Director of the Calley Foundation, says “we are thrilled to partner with The Village and are grateful for its good work to provide critical services to unhoused and at-risk youth in Los Angeles.”
Nearly $3 million in total funding was committed through the LA2050 Grant Challenge by a collaborative of a dozen Los Angeles foundations led by the Goldhirsh Foundation. Partners include The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, Snap Foundation, John N. Calley Foundation, Elbaz Family Foundation, R&S Kayne Foundation, Fox Foundation, and first-time participants Brunswick Foundation and OpenAI Academy.
About The Village Family Services
Founded in 1997, The Village Family Services protects children from abuse, preserves families, and builds a stronger, safer community. The Village provides comprehensive, culturally responsive programs for unhoused youth, mental health, and foster care/adoption services. The Village serves nearly 2,900 children, youth, and families annually throughout Los Angeles County.