Los Angeles Housing Partnership – Food Bank Distribution Program

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Hunger in Los Angeles County is a growing problem. At any given time, over 1.4 million people, out of 10 million in the total county population, are either suffering from, or are at risk of hunger. Food banks have noticed a sudden and unprecedented increase in the request for food assistance. While most statewide food banks have seen 30 – 50% increases in need, some individual programs are realizing increases of 100% or more. A recent survey of food bank pantries revealed a 41% spike in the number of families and a 43% jump in the number of individuals requesting food assistance from September 2008 over September 2007.

Joining the fight against hunger, in 2000 LAHP was approved as a distributing agency of the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank to provide food assistance for its very low income residents. The initial distribution program was small in scale, designed to benefit roughly 100 needy residents at the Parkview Hotel, who received basic food staples such as rice, beans, soup and canned vegetables.

In 2007, Matthew Valdez, LAHP’s Community Liaison, rejuvenated the LAHP Food Bank Program. Under Matthew’s vision and leadership, the food bank distribution was moved to the open air parking lot behind the historic Bryson Apartments, a highly visible outdoor area within easy walking distance of five LAHP affordable housing developments, all in close proximity to MacArthur Park.

With the help of countless volunteers from local organizations, in 2008, LAHP served an average of 500 people (low-income families, seniors, and the homeless) per month at the MacArthur Park site. Many of the people that visit the food bank survive on minimum wage or less, and the average household size was approximately 3.5 persons.

In 2009, LAHP received a generous two-year grant from the California Community Foundation (CCF). In March 2009, LAHP expanded its Food Bank Program to a second location, in Hollywood; and as of June 2009, in collaboration with Shelter Partnership, started providing clothes, household supplies, furniture and basic toiletries. With the guidance of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and in close collaboration with Council District 1, Councilmember Ed Reyes and his staff, the Community Redevelopment Agency, and the volunteer efforts of Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) Youth Center - LAHP served over 11,500 people in 2009.

In April of 2010 LAHP launched its newest Foodbank site at Rosewood Gardens Senior Affordable Housing apartments. The new site has been a huge success serving both residents and the community as well as receiving help from the neighboring church, Rosewood United Methodist Church (RUMC), in the form of dedicated volunteers. The Foodbank has helped to cement a solid working relationship with the church and has even compelled them to become an agency of the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. In September of 2010, RUMC began a distribution at their church which, in addition to the LAHP distribution, now means that the Rosewood community will have two food distributions every month.

Through its monthly food distribution at its 3 sites, in 2010 LAHP was able to serve & provide food to 22,221 low-income & homeless individuals in the McArthur Park, Westlake, and Hollywood areas. LAHP is proud of this accomplishment and looks forward to continuing its efforts to provide critical food staples to those in need in 2011.