Dignity for Previously Incarcerated Angelenos

Housing and Homelessness

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

Los Angeles' housing and income crisis means more people than ever are experiencing homelessness or are just one paycheck away from losing their homes. People with histories of incarceration or criminal involvement-about 70% of LA's adult unsheltered population-are especially vulnerable because they are also often excluded from housing, employment, and networks of support. This makes it even more difficult for previously-incarcerated people to access the resources necessary to stabilize their lives and take the steps to find safe, permanent housing. What's more, LA lacks adequate sources of clean, cared-for clothing and hygiene resources for people experiencing homelessness, especially for people who are unsheltered. Unhoused individuals often end up wearing old, dirty clothing and facing the stigma of "looking homeless" that further marginalizes them from resources, perpetuates a sense of invisibility and shame, and fuels criminalization of people experiencing homelessness.

For people living on the street or experiencing extreme poverty, a new outfit allows you to shed the stigma of dirty, worn-out, ill-fitting clothes and be seen for who you are. Project Ropa meets our clients wherever they are with our Mobile Clothing Closet not just to provide clean clothes that fit and hygiene supplies, but also to support health, restore dignity, and fuel opportunity for those in need. We work one-on-one with people to learn their needs, success, and goals. Our team then helps them pick out clothing, accessories, and hygiene supplies unique to their situation. Clients can also access our partners' ancillary resources such as hot showers, dental or health care, haircuts, meals, system navigation, ID replacement, and more. Project Ropa is also part of a comprehensive, local network of resiliency care organizations in LA. Our Community Clothing and Hygiene Bank provides bulk supplies of curated, high-quality clothing and personal hygiene supplies to more than 25 mutual-aid groups, nonprofits, and community organizations serving people experiencing homelessness or extreme poverty. We sell donated designer items through an e-commerce site with the proceeds going back into our work on the streets, damaged items are upcycled and sold as well and all other items are responsibly recycled. Finally, we employ people with significant employment barriers such as previous homelessness, previous incarceration, or disability.

We serve more than 18,000 people annually through direct, streetside resiliency services and impactful partnerships, 81% of whom are homeless and a significant number of whom have previous experience with the criminal justice system. With additional funding, we can serve approximately 4,000 new people through additional service locations and partnerships. We currently have a waiting list of organizations seeking to partner with us to provide services. We reach those who are not fully served by traditional networks and experience extreme marginalization because of their housing status. This includes those who cannot access bricks-and-mortar clothing closets, shelters, or low-income housing programs because of substance use disorder, previous incarceration, or other barriers. Funding will mean more people with barriers to employment would have jobs and more people in need will have access to the clothing and hygiene that reduces stigma, supports employment goals, and improves health.

We measure impact through the number of people we serve and the quantity of clothing we distribute. Last year, we served approximately 950 (duplicated) people monthly through our streetside service (50% more than 2021), and rescued 55,000+ pounds of clothing through direct distribution, local recycling, and e-commerce sales. Since our founding in 2017 we have saved more than 204,000 pounds of textiles from ending up in landfills and distributed 375,312 items of clothing to those in need. We partnered with 25 non-profit and mutual-aid organizations (double the number since pre-pandemic). We also know we are making a difference when our clients can trust us to find clothing they need. Our goal is for 100% of our streetside clients to receive 1x1 support in selecting items they need and be able to access items that fit their styles and bodies. Because we are such a fixture in the communities we serve, we can often anticipate client requests and provide specific sizes or styles.