The Los Angeles Mission on Skid Row. (Photo courtesy of city-data.com))

To meet this demand, the Mission struggles to budget their estimated $14.5 million in funds. Although the shelter has worked hard to receive money from donors and charity events, they have had many setbacks.

 “We struggled with keeping the money flowing in, while continuing to meet the demand,” says Herb Smith, president of the LA Mission, “so we had to cut nonessential services to keep feeding our constituents.” 

Over the past five years, the Los Angeles Mission has experienced many changes since it opened in 1992. Last year, the shelter slashed programs and positions to sustain the shelter.

The LA Mission reduced their staff of 120 to 94, laying off secretaries, administrators and marketing personnel. At this time, many staff members work multiple jobs.

Despite these obstacles, the LA Mission continues to provide for all their constituents. From a street look, the Los Angeles Mission already proves what an important role it serves for the community. Passing through the shelter’s open gates, visitors feel as though they have come home. People meet in the shelter’s courtyard to exchange words and grab a meal while they wave to pedestrians on the street. The open atmosphere comes as a relief to the many people that come to the shelter.

Constituents include Linda Garcia mother of two who appreciate these services during the current state of the economy. Linda lost her job as a receptionist in 2008 due to lay-offs. Currently, she works part-time at a supermarket to provide for her and children. She came to the LA Mission to help her feed her family and get clothes for the winter months. 

“Three years ago, I used to walk by here and now I come a couple times a week,” said Linda. “ I lost my job and now times are hard. I’m doing everything I can and the Mission helps me when I need it.”

The LA Mission is helpful atmosphere continues once passing through the entrance doors. On a daily basis, 2000 meals are served three times a day and 450 beds are filled every day.

The Mission also partners with public services such as Los Angeles Christian Health Centers to provide healthcare to their guest, free of charge. Many of the people who use these are on the last rung of Social Security, suffer from a disability or addiction or are unemployed.

In addition to providing for people that come through their doors, the shelter hopes to prepare them to turn their lives around. The LA Mission runs a two year program for homeless or struggling adults to turn rejoin the job force. The shelter’s program, the Urban Training Institute, aims to educate their students to pursue academic studies. 150 people graduate from this program every year. This program was one of many that had to take on cuts to keep the shelter open.

“This process focuses on helping some clients finish their educational studies as all of them learn vocational skills,” says Smith. “At the end of the program, we help them find housing and a job.”

Although the Mission is still stretching to provide for their community, they still prepare to serve everyone who needs assistance. “Of course we would like if people could write checks or donate food,” says Smith, “but we would appreciate if citizens would be aware of the people who need help around them and help them get assistance they need.”

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