Terrence

Terrence, age 29, spent his childhood in LA, Indiana, and Georgia before eventually returning to Los Angeles as a young adult. Out on his own, Terrence held various jobs and struggled to maintain stable housing.

The rising cost of rent, combined with financial pressures from car payments and unexpected mechanical issues, pushed him into a cycle of hardship. Despite working double shifts, Terrence eventually lost his apartment and found himself living in his car.

Determined to break free from this cycle, Terrence sought assistance from Safe Parking LA. He acted swiftly alongside his case manager, Mirna, to remove barriers, improve his employment prospects, and submit housing applications. With help from The Change Reaction, he moved into an affordable apartment conveniently close to work. Terrence is now pursuing his goal of becoming a registered nurse by enrolling in educational courses.

Throughout his journey, Terrence’s reserved demeanor has been marked by a deep pride in his worth. He cherishes his independence and looks forward to building towards his promising future!

Bill

Bill, a 73-year old U.S. Navy Veteran who served during the Vietnam War, had settled into a comfortable life on a boat in Long Beach for the last 12 years but recently fell into homelessness when the cost of upkeep and escalating dock fees became unsustainable.

Instead of exhausting his savings, he decided to sell his boat and live in his vehicle.

Aiming to avoid unwanted attention, Bill frequently moved between different city areas during the night. When safety became too great of a concern, he sought resources and found Safe Parking LA.

Together with his case manager, Anna, Bill formulated a housing and service plan addressing his health, housing, and income concerns. He successfully received a housing voucher through the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program and was able to move into his apartment in the new West Los Angeles VA campus units.

Bill holds a B.A. in Photography from Sonoma State University and previously worked for several newspapers as a photographer and darkroom technician. He looks forward to continuing his work in freelance photography.

Joseph

Joseph is a 35-year-old father of four who enrolled with Safe Parking LA in December 2020. Joseph became homeless after a difficult separation with his partner. Despite having custody of his children, he felt he had no choice but to send them away while he lived out of his vehicle.

With the help of his case manager, Joseph was able to resolve ongoing legal issues, reduce his debt, and identify an apartment that was appropriate for his children. When Safe Parking LA provided Joseph with temporary financial assistance to help with moving costs, responded, This gives me an opportunity to provide more clothes for my kids and new school supplies for my son. Joseph moved into his new apartment with his children in March 2021.

“Safe Parking LA kept me off the streets and safe at night. My kids are doing a lot better now that I have a place to stay.” – Joseph

Rodney and Tennell

Rodney and his younger brother, Tennell, enrolled with Safe Parking LA in June 2020. When they arrived, their car registration was expired and their car failed multiple smog tests. Following a break-in, the passenger side window of their vehicle was being held up with tape. Their fixed income was not sufficient enough to support their basic needs and pay the cost of bringing their vehicle into legal compliance.

With case management support and temporary financial assistance from Safe Parking LA, Rodney and Tennell’s vehicle was repaired and brought to legal status. They also received move-in assistance to help them transition into a new apartment in October 2020. Rodney described the process as if the fallen dominoes were being lifted, explaining that the momentum had finally shifted in the other direction.

“Safe Parking LA helped us through a bad situation. We were out there. But God came through, you came through, and now we have an apartment.” – Rodney

Yolanda and Luis

Yolanda and her husband Luis lost their housing earlier this year when Luis was out of work and Yolanda could not afford to pay their rent on her income alone.

Yolanda and Luis enrolled in Safe Parking LA in February 2021. Shortly after enrolling, they began experiencing car problems. With case management support and financial assistance from Safe Parking LA, Yolanda and Luis resolved their vehicle issues allowing Yolanda to get to work safely. Their case manager also helped the senior couple to identify a suitable retirement community and submit an application.

In May 2021, their application was accepted and, with move-in assistance from Safe Parking LA, Yolanda and Luis transitioned into their new home.

“People would shine lights in my car to look inside my car. Safe Parking LA was a big help. I no longer felt scared with security watching over me. I finally felt safe.” – Yolanda