Los Angeles LGBT Center Expands Services for Youth Experiencing Homelessness With Support From Bank of America

LOS ANGELES, July 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the Los Angeles LGBT Center announces it has received a $20,000 economic mobility grant from Bank of America to support the Center's programs and services for youth experiencing homelessness. The grant will help fund holistic services including food, showers, emergency shelter, transitional housing, education and college access services, employment training, job placement assistance, addiction recovery, and other health and wellness support.

On any given day or night, there are several thousand homeless youth ages 24 and younger living on the streets of Los Angeles. At its Youth Center, which is open seven day a week, the Center provides three meals per day; clothing; support groups; a charter high school, GED and college prep program; an employment preparation, training, and placement program; and more. The Center also offers a place to stay at its emergency shelter and longer term housing at its Transitional Living Program.

In 2016 the Center served more than 75,500 meals at its Youth Center and provided more than 22,200 bed nights to homeless youth. Additionally, more than 145 homeless youth secured jobs through the Center's Youth Employment Program.

"The 2017 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Youth Count found that nearly 6,000 youth are homeless on any given night—with a staggering 40 percent of them identifying as LGBT. With Bank of America's generosity, the Los Angeles LGBT Center will be able to expands its life-saving services to homeless youth," said Center Director of Children, Youth & Family Services Simon Costello. "No organization offers a wider range of services for LGBT and questioning youth than the Los Angeles LGBT Center. We are honored to work with Bank of America to provide whatever support and services that youth need to get off the streets and become healthy, equal, and complete members of society."

"The Los Angeles LGBT Center does incredibly important work providing much-needed resources for LGBT youth who are experiencing homelessness or other economic challenges," said Raul A. Anaya, Los Angeles market president, Bank of America. "Bank of America works with nonprofits like the Los Angeles LGBT Center to help homeless youth get off the streets and onto the path of financial stability." 

About the Los Angeles LGBT Center
Since 1969 the Los Angeles LGBT Center has cared for, championed and celebrated LGBT individuals and families in Los Angeles and beyond. Today the Center's more than 600 employees provide services for more LGBT people than any other organization in the world, offering programs, services and global advocacy that span four broad categories: Health, Social Services and Housing, Culture and Education, Leadership and Advocacy. We are an unstoppable force in the fight against bigotry and the struggle to build a better world; a world in which LGBT people can be healthy, equal and complete members of society. Learn more at lalgbtcenter.org.

About Bank of America
At Bank of America, our focus on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors is critical to fulfilling our purpose of helping make people's financial lives better. Our commitment to growing our business responsibly is embedded in every aspect of our company. It is demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our customers, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocate groups, such as community and environmental organizations, in order to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at, and connect with us on Twitter at @BofA_News.

Contact: Gil Diaz
323-993-7622
[email protected]

SOURCE Los Angeles LGBT Center

Related Links

http://lalgbtcenter.org