Community

Housing and Homelessness

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

To serve additional unsheltered individuals from vulnerable populations- seniors, veterans, formerly incarcerated, those from all demographics with nutritious meals as well as additional wellness services. We turn no one away for their inability to pay and are unbound by age demographics.

MOW West will utilize the grant funds to expand our meal production and delivery capacity; we are ready to expand our services. Funding will allow us to meet the growing demand and allow us to scale accordingly. It is our mission to ensure that nutritious meals reach those in need. Furthermore, we will enhance our meal options to assist with specific health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, and cancer, as recommended by medical care. MOW West believes in the equitable distribution of resources, and that includes medically appropriate meals, including renal, Low-K, puree, and diabetic options for vulnerable populations. In addition to meals, MOW West recognizes the importance of caring for the 'whole human'. We emphasize the importance of the latter by implementing social support. That's why we will implement our beloved Community Connections and friendly calling program, which provides not only an empathetic ear, but information regarding other resources and services. By addressing clients' broader needs, MOW West supports overall well-being and improves health anchored outcomes.

Through the expansion of our Food & Shelter program, Los Angeles County's vulnerable formerly unhoused population and other vulnerable people will spotlight that equity is at the forefront of all stakeholders' agendas. All deserve compassionate care, nutritious meals, and vital support. By expanding our Food and Shelter program, we will increase access for those vulnerable populations and provide medically tailored meals to assist specific health conditions. Implementing the Community Connections Friendly Calling program will foster social connections, reducing isolation and connecting seniors to additional resources. Our vision includes scaling our program, sharing best practices, and empowering communities nationwide. We aim to build a stronger, more inclusive community where all seniors feel valued and have access to the resources they need for a dignified and fulfilling life. A recent Boston University study documented the impact of friendly calling programs.

MOW West has a comprehensive evaluation plan that is grounded in evidence-based research, client assessments, and community needs assessments. We support our data by including statistics from the LA Homeless Service Authority and from community partners. Furthermore, peer-reviewed research is collected, re; urgent challenges faced by homeless seniors, emphasizing the critical need for intervention-healthy meals. Our current metrics include the number of additional formerly unsheltered clients served (over 60% of our clients), the number of clients receiving medically tailored meals, the variety of meals offered, client satisfaction measured through feedback surveys and testimonials, and changes in food security and malnutrition indicators. Our robust evaluation provides us with the quantitative and qualitative data necessary to gauge the impact of our program on vulnerable populations' nutrition, overall health and wellness, and if applicable, successful reintegration into society.