MPMALA Youth Scholarship / Vet Homeless Support

Housing and Homelessness

County of Los Angeles

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

The Montford Point Marines Los Angeles Chapter seeks to address the issues of: *housing and homeless *economic disparity *diversity and equity address mental health maladies The organization understands that the City of Los Angeles has a housing and economic crisis that has been exacerbated by COVID-19. Additionally, the organization is a military organization of WWII combat veterans who entered the Marine Corps as innocent young men and survived war, racism, poverty, and the psychological wounds that left mental health scars from their service. MPMALA seeks to improve the lives of young people who are facing challenges and adversities, and those who are about to be homeless because of economic hardships. They intend to not just talk to young people about these issues but to meet them, engage them, encourage them, and show them how to succeed in a world that seems bigger than they can manage. They also want to demonstrate the DIVERSITY AND EQUITY that they learned in the Marine Corps.

This project is multi-layered. 1). Scholarships will be awarded to 8 high school seniors in JROTC programs who must research the Montford Point Marines, and write an essay that correlates the early history of the Montford Point Marines and today's youth. Youth will attend the Annual Marine Corps Birthday Ball, where they will meet the Montford Point Marines and other dignitaries. They will receive their scholarship awards at the Ball. 2). 6 college student veterans registered with the Veteran Resource Centers at El Camino and L.A. Trade Tech Colleges, will be identified by administrators to be homeless or at risk of homelessness. Students must complete an application. The scholarship recipient will be selected by MPMALA committee. Veteran families at risk of homelessness will be identified, referred, and vetted by local VFWs and VA or AM Legion Post. The award will be to help pay rent, utilities, or other financial impacts that put families at risk of homelessness 2 high school students will receive a $10000 scholarship (essay, GPA, JROTC ) 6 high school students will receive $5000= (essay, GPA, JROTC ) 6 College student veterans at risk of homelessness will receive $2000 each 2 Veteran families at risk of homelessness will receive $2500.00 each Mental Health partnership with Mental Health America and Marine Corps Birthday Ball $8000

Successes for this program are: 1. Being able to track the students through college and into careers. 2. Being able to see at-risk college students move out of living in their cars into permanent housing and successfully graduating from college (housed) 3. Being able to see veteran families and senior veterans who are in a financial crisis and just need a financial boost to avoid losing their housing and/or separating their families 4. Being able to have a relationship with an isolated veteran who does not have mental health access and may be in a mental health crisis that could possibly cost him or her, their lives. 5. Being able to share the story of the Montford Point Marines, a story of overcoming extraordinary odds, overcoming racism and hatred, and ultimately, going into combat alongside White Marines who became their brothers. The Montford Point Marines story is told at the military ball and it changes the perspective of those who attend. It is HOPE! Success is ultimately,

This program has been in existence for the past 10 years and has grown over the years. To date the Montford Point Marines have given away over 40 scholarships and 10 homeless support awards to at-risks veterans. The scholarship program is part of the mission, however, the beginning scholarship awards came from the 40+ Montford Point active members in Los Angeles. The awards and number of scholarships have grown gradually over the years. The organization began tracking the students 3 years ago, those 15 students are still in school The organization has helped a young veteran who was the sole breadwinner for his family in COVID, his mom had cancer and was losing the house. This organization paid the utility bills and part of the mortgage and saved the house. The young veteran is now attending USC and wants to be an accountant. Paid for mental health therapy for a veteran who was in hospice care. The therapy included visits with a support animal that gave him joy at the end of his life.