VIDEOS

You can help Skid Row right now. Here's how https://www.501cthree.org/the-water-box. 501CTHREE.org, Kindhumans, and Homeless Healthcare LA (HHCLA) have launched the 501CTHREE’s 6th Water Box at the Refresh Spot, in the Skid Row community of Los Angeles. 501CTHREE.org is a non-profit reimagined for the next generation and founded by long-collaborating partners Jaden Smith and Drew FitzGerald. Since its inception in 2019, four Water Boxes have been deployed in Flint, MI, 1 in Newark, NJ and now 1 in Skid Row, Los Angeles totaling over 49,000+ gallons of free water to community members and over 399,000+ 16 oz plastic bottles replaced. Skid Row is facing a public health crisis in the midst of a pandemic, creating a lack of hygiene access and access to safe drinking water. Water on Skid Row is a scarcity as many of the 4,000 residents of the homeless community get their water from “hijacked” fire hydrants. In response to COVID-19, HHCLA began providing water to the community at the ReFresh Spot. The double crisis that has hit Skid Row is affecting families in terrible ways. The ReFresh Spot is where the Kindhumans Water Box will live, delivering clean drinking water at the rate of 10 gallons per minute during hours of operation. The Water Box is the game-changer for the ReFresh Spot and helps address access to clean water which has heightened throughout the pandemic. Upon meeting the team at the ReFresh spot and HHCLA, 501CTHREE quickly learned that the needs of the community were different than previous water box locations like Newark and Flint. Specifically, addressing the heat factor in LA and that Skid row lies in the heart of downtown LA, reaching temperatures of up to 110 degrees during the summer. The engineering team made adjustments to the Water Box to include a chiller to chill clean water after the filtration process as well as solar panels as a secondary power source. The 501CTHREE Kindhumans LA Water Box launch is in collaboration with HHCLA at The Refresh Spot, serving as the first Water Box in Los Angeles and the second Water Box donated by Kindhumans. The Water Box launch is a culmination of the community training and testing being implemented by HHCLA this past month. The clean water will be distributed and tested by HHCLA to make it extremely transparent for the community. The HHCLA ReFresh spot, strategic partner of 501CTHREE.org in Los Angeles, did an agency-wide pivot in March of 2020 when the pandemic hit. And took their services to the streets. They reconfigured the layout at each of their sites, providing on-the-spot telehealth services for counseling sessions while maintaining social distancing. In just the first 8 weeks of opening, the ReFresh spot provided almost 40,000 units of service in the form of showers, laundry, and access to the restroom. For more information about 501CTHREE.org and HHCLA and to view further information on how to fund a jug or another Water Box on behalf of HHCLA, visit: https://www.501cthree.org/waterbox-home About 501CTHREE.org 501CTHREE.org’s mission is to mobilize the next generation to fight climate change by creating a global community that embraces and understands accurate climate change innovation and technology. To learn more about 501CTHREE.org visit https://www.501cthree.org/. About KINDHUMANS Kindhumans was created to celebrate the good in humanity by elevating community, commerce, and world-changing causes. Co-founders Suzi and Justin Wilkenfeld dreamed up Kindhumans based on their journey as parents and philanthropists. The goal is to set a good example for the next generation by fostering a community of kindness, making it easy for everyone to consume responsibly, and always giving back. https://kindhumans.com About HHCLA Homeless Health Care Los Angeles (HHCLA) is a nonprofit, community-based organization that provides comprehensive behavioral health and holistic health care to address the unique challenges of people who are experiencing homelessness. Driven by socially conscious Angelenos for fellow Angelenos, HHCLA has been providing a pathway to health, recovery, and emotional well-being without bias or judgment for more than 30 years. https://www.hhcla.org/ About ReFresh Spot The ReFresh Spot is a community-driven project that provides Skid Row residents access to restrooms, showers, laundry, and phone charging with supportive services. It is a public facility open to anyone in the community with no discrimination for entry. The ReFresh Spot is open 7 days a week and offers a place for people to have their basic needs met with dignity. https://www.hhcla.org/programs 501CTHREE Contact: Renee Samms, Director of Community renee@501CTHREE.org KINDHUMANS Contact: Jenn Summers, jsummers@kindhumans.com HHCLA Contact: Stephany Campos, ReFresh Spot Director scampos@hhcla.org

In recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day, we are asking you to support HHCLA as we kick off our #BUYAHOODIESAVEALIFE​ fundraising campaign. Buy a hoodie or t-shirt and support our naloxone distribution effort on Skid Row. Save a life. https://www.hhcla.org/shop

Live Facebook event: https://business.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=313814173059684&ref=watch_permalink

HOMELESS HEALTH CARE LOS ANGELES PRESENTS: Naloxone as a Technology of Solidarity: The History of Opioid Overdose Prevention with Author Nancy Campbell and Harm Reduction Activist Heather Edney AUGUST 31ST 6PM- 7PM PDT

Virtual tour of the Center for Harm Reduction

Virtual tour of the ReFresh Spot

FENTANYL IS HERE TO STAY. As drug users and providers, it’s critical that we talk about safer fentanyl use in order to stay alive. Homeless Health Care LA's Director of Development and Communication Heather Edney discusses the importance of carrying the life saving drug naloxone in today's opioid crisis. As a former heroin user herself, Edney is proof that drug users deserve a second chance. Naloxone immediately counters the effects of an opioid overdose and is available at HHCLA's Center for Harm Reduction in Skid Row, Los Angeles. Learn more about naloxone with Harm Reduction Hero Heather Edney via NBC4 News.

Every year on August 31st, International Overdose Awareness Day spreads the message that the tragedy of overdose death is preventable. In honor of this year's International Overdose Awareness Day, HHCLA's Director of Development and Communications Heather Edney, addressed the opioid crisis, speaking to drug users and provides on how to recognize the signs of an overdose, how to reverse an overdose with Naloxone and crucial harm reduction strategies specific to fentanyl.⁣ Each attendee left with one Naloxone Kit. ABC7 News was on hand to speak with Edney about her own struggle with opioid addiction and how she tirelessly advocates to end the stigma for drug users by continuing to provide supportive resources.

recap video!

JUNE 2018 To make a donation please follow the link http://hhcla.org/donate.html HHCLA Fundraising Dinner & Auction Featuring Curt Smith of Tears for Fears. Cafe Pinot, DTLA, June 03, 2018.

Homeless Heath Care Los Angeles Headquarters Grand Opening and Karchi Perlmann Fine Photography Exhibition

Homeless Health Care Los Angeles' housing case manager Daniel Gaines, speaks on some of the services we provide to go above and beyond for our clients in need. Our approach to securing permanent supportive housing for our clients means we must help them with both their physical health and mental health conditions. In our opinion, there is no other way to make a real difference in someone’s life. By working on a day-to-day, person-to-person level with our clients and having an actual door for them to walk through, we are able to offer a more comprehensive and action-oriented set of health services that improves their quality of life.

Homeless Health Care Los Angeles (HHCLA)s' Center for Harm Reduction in Skid Row distributes over two million clean syringes each year through their needle exchange program. Spectrum TV interviews one client who uses the service and board member Jennifer Nash-Ellenburg about why the organization's mission is close to her heart. For more information on HHCLA and their Center for Harm Reduction visit the website here: https://hhcla.org/

The very image of desperation, despair, loss and pain can be easily transposed to reflect resilience, hope and capability. The symbol of The Tent - as shelter for L.A.’s homeless community - a thin shield against the harsh city and difficult living of Skid Row – is an unfortunately iconic one that both reminds and obscures our understanding of the true issues going on inside. In an odd way, the tent wraps it all up in a temporary bow that we all agree to live with. Editorial photographer Josh Rose recently contributed his creative-eye to draw attention to this construct. Rose, a long-time collaborator and supporter of Homeless Health Care Los Angeles, set out to interpret life on Skid Row. Armed only with his camera, Rose was on a mission to authentically and empathetically tell the stories of our clients. As Rose entered each tent, the story of the people living inside came alive with truth, understanding and an observation of the power of human connection. Watch more on Rose’s Skid Row experience in the video below. Purchase remaining images from HHCLA's annual fundraiser here: https://www.hhclaplato.org/artforacause

Naloxone (also known as Narcan®) is a medication called an “opioid antagonist” used to counter the effects of opioid overdose, for example morphine and heroin overdose. Specifically, naloxone is used in opioid overdoses to counteract life-threatening depression of the central nervous system and respiratory system, allowing an overdose victim to breathe normally. Naloxone is a nonscheduled (i.e., non-addictive), prescription medication. Homeless Health Care Los Angeles distributes nasal Narcan at our Center for Harm Reduction in Skid Row. Our nasal Narcan is available without a prescription to anyone who needs it. It is supplied with a brief training on how to use it in case someone is at risk of an overdose. The Center for Harm Reduction is located at 512 E 4th St. Los Angeles, 90012.

Socks Soap and Hope

Skid Rover distributes collars, leashes and kibble to people with pets living in Skid Row. Through a comprehensive offering of holistic physical health, behavioral health, housing, and quality-of-life services all rooted firmly in the principles of Harm Reduction, HHCLA tackles the pressing problems that people experiencing homelessness face every day. Our newly launched Skid Rover program embodies this holistic approach to wellness by offering resources for our clients’ pets – family members who offer unconditional love and companionship. By supporting Skid Rover, our street team is able to directly distribute critically needed supplies to the people and pets that need them the most. https://www.skidrover.com/