FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Village Family Services Receives Grant from Kaiser Permanente to Support Education and Employment for Unhoused Youth
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif., – The Village Family Services (TVFS) has been awarded a grant from Kaiser Permanente to provide education and employment enrichment stipends for youth experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County.
The one-year grant will support 38 young adults, ages 18-25, residing in The Village’s transitional housing program that provides housing, mental health support and other critical services for up to three years. Each young person will work with a dedicated case manager to pursue individualized education or career goals such as enrolling in school, maintaining employment, or earning a credential. Grant funds will cover essential costs such as transportation, textbooks, uniforms, tools, tuition and certification fees – expenses that often create barriers to stability.
“This partnership with Kaiser Permanente underscores the importance of addressing both the immediate and long-term needs of unhoused youth,” said Lauren Hall, vice president of Development and Communications, The Village Family Services. “These stipends empower our residents to take real, measurable steps toward independence – on their own terms.”
“This collaboration between The Village Family Services and Kaiser Permanente is more than a grant – it’s a lifeline,” said Murtaza Sanwari, senior vice president and area manager, Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills/West Ventura. “By investing in the education and career paths of unhoused youth, we’re not just funding opportunities, we’re fueling futures. This initiative will ripple through our community, turning barriers into bridges and empowering young adults to thrive with dignity and purpose.”
This initiative is part of The Village Family Services’ Ending Youth Homelessness Program that connects youth experiencing homelessness to housing, case management, mental health services and more. The Village’s Drop-In Center for Unhoused Youth in North Hollywood and its housing navigation services, including its transitional housing facility, are key components of this program.
“Every young person who walks through our doors has a dream for their future,” said Olga Flores, senior director of housing at The Village Family Services. “With support from Kaiser Permanente, we can help turn those dreams into concrete opportunities for growth, learning and self-sufficiency.”
Since 1997, The Village Family Services has provided trauma-informed, culturally responsive services for children, youth and families across Los Angeles County. The agency’s mission is to protect children from abuse, preserve families, and build a stronger, safer community.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.6 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org.
About The Village Family Services
Founded in 1997, The Village Family Services (TVFS) delivers foster care, adoption, behavioral health, housing, and homelessness services for unhoused and at-risk youth, children, and families throughout Los Angeles County. Serving nearly 2,000 individuals annually, TVFS provides culturally responsive and trauma-informed care that addresses the complex needs of the region’s most vulnerable populations. Accredited by CARF and recognized with the Human Rights Campaign’s All Children–All Families Seal, The Village advances workforce development in social services, elevates the voices of those with lived experience, and strengthens systems of care for LGBTQIA+ youth and unaccompanied migrant children.