The People Concern Calls for Action and Activism in New Social Media Campaign

    LOS ANGELES, CA, May 02, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The People Concern, a nonprofit organization leading the effort to end homelessness in Los Angeles, announced today it will launch a social media campaign and website (housedhealthysafe.com) beginning April 29 to rally public support for more affordable housing and to collect donations of much needed socks, underwear and hygiene kits. Using the hashtag #HOUSEDHEALTHYSAFE across social media channels to spread awareness for the campaign, The People Concern will also ask concerned Angelinos to tweet local elected officials their support for more affordable housing NOW.

A banner will display #HOUSEDHEALTHYSAFE on the Casa Vertigo, which is in Downtown Los Angeles and in prime view of the 10 and 110 interchange and nearly 300,000 daily commuters. The message behind the campaign is simple in that The People Concern believes and advocates that every single individual deserves to be housed, healthy and safe.

"With 57,794 homeless individuals in Los Angeles, it's imperative our city leaders take action to build more affordable housing units now," said The People Concern Executive Director John Maceri. "As one of the largest social service providers in Los Angeles County, we have a special responsibility to speak out on behalf of the most vulnerable among us, shine a light on the multi-faceted issues that they face, and translate public awareness to action."

One of Los Angeles County's largest social services agencies, The People Concern utilizes a housing-first approach and provides a fully integrated system of care – including mental and medical health care, substance abuse services, and permanent supportive housing. Informed by more than 50 years of work in the community, The People Concern is a leading provider of, and advocate for, evidence-based solutions to the multi-faceted challenges inherent in homelessness. The organization's innovative model has been proven in communities throughout Los Angeles County, and recognized and replicated across the country.

The #HOUSEDHEALTHYSAFE campaign officially kicked off Sunday night at the organization's first-ever Celebrating Change gala at Casa Vertigo, where donors, sponsors, supporters and celebrity guests, including Diane Keaton and Greg Germann, came together and raised more than $500,000 that will go directly toward helping fight homelessness by providing much needed staff and services including mental health care, housing services, domestic violence services, life skills, income assistance, medical care and outreach.

The campaign asks Los Angeles residents to contribute in one of the following ways:

1. Reach out to local government representatives via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram advocating for more affordable housing NOW. It's imperative for elected officials to know their constituents support this. The People Concern has created auto populated Tweets to make it quick and easy for the public to send their message of support to their city leaders.

2. Donate NEW socks and underwear to be distributed by The People Concern outreach teams as well as at their Access Center and interim housing facilities.

3. Assemble travel sized hygiene kits to be distributed by The People Concern's outreach teams. These kits satisfy basic hygiene needs while helping the teams to engage and build relationships with homeless individuals to connect them to life-saving services and housing. Click here to learn what to include and how to assemble these kits.

Drop-off locations are:
2116 Arlington Ave.
STE 100
Los Angeles, CA 90018

1453 16th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90404

Items can also be purchased and shipped directly to The People Concern by ordering from the organization's Amazon wish lists.

One of Los Angeles County's largest social services agencies, The People Concern is working to end homelessness through its proven approach that focuses on housing first with wraparound services. The People Concern provides a fully integrated system of care – including outreach, housing services, mental and medical health care, substance abuse services, life skills, and wellness programs – tailored to the unique needs of homeless individuals and families and victims of domestic violence. Ninety-five percent of those supported with wraparound retention services will never be homeless again. This innovative evidence-based model has been proven in communities throughout Los Angeles County and recognized and replicated across the country.

The People Concern was formed in 2016 in a merger of two trusted social service organizations based in Los Angeles County, OPCC and Lamp Community. As one agency, The People Concern continues to build on the longstanding reputations of its two founding organizations and deliver services with deep compassion and profound respect for all the individuals it serves. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, donate or get your company involved, visit www.ThePeopleConcern.org and follow The People Concern's social networks: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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