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2022 Grants Challenge

Warehouse Distribution Program

The S. Mark Taper Foundation Shelter Resource Bank is a unique project that distributes, completely free of charge, donations of surplus inventory from manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and other vendors to homeless service agencies throughout Los Angeles County. Since 1989, the program has provided over $300 million worth of nonperishable goods to over 750 different community agencies directly serving L.A. residents living in poverty. Our warehouse is one of the largest homeless resource facilities in the nation.

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What is the primary issue area that your application will impact?

Housing and Homelessness

In which areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?

County of Los Angeles

In what stage of innovation is this project, program, or initiative?

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

What is your understanding of the issue that you are seeking to address?

Homelessness is among the most visible issues affecting Los Angeles. Over 60,000 people are homelessness any given night in L.A. Combating homelessness is done through supporting the organizations fighting the issue. Shelter Partnership annually partners with well over 200 agencies directly serving people living in homelessness. This includes supportive housing sites, domestic violence shelters, foster agencies, veterans groups, and many other entities providing direct service to unsheltered L.A. residents. We provide these groups with products they and their clients need at no cost, so our partners can spend more of their time, energy, and funds on service rather than securing goods themselves.

Describe the project, program, or initiative this grant will support to address the issue.

The S. Mark Taper Foundation Shelter Resource Bank is a warehouse program solicits large-scale donations of merchandise and ensures these items are delivered to the people and agencies who need them most complete free of charge. Since 1989, the program has distributed $300 million worth of nonperishable goods to over 750 agencies directly serving L.A. residents living in poverty. The project is like a food bank, but only secures and distributes nonperishable goods. So, think of items like clothes, hygiene products, furniture, etc. Basically, any daily need that is not food-based.

Describe how Los Angeles County will be different if your work is successful.

We estimate that each year 100,000 people receive items from our warehouse project. Our program is provides invaluable support to hundreds of smaller agencies providing incredible important direct service. Our success only enables us to widen our program and support more agencies in Southern California.

What evidence do you have that this project, program, or initiative is or will be successful, and how will you define and measure success?

We measure impact by the value of the products we distribute and the number of agencies who receive our donations. In 2021, we distributed $24 million to 280 agencies providing direct service to people living in poverty.

Approximately how many people will be impacted by this project, program, or initiative?

Direct Impact: 1

Indirect Impact: 100,000