Dignity Kits for LA Seniors + Disabled At Risk of Homelessness

Affordable housing and homelessness

City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit) County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

We have seen vulnerable seniors and disabled adults face a critical lack of support during hospital-to-home transitions while working at Concise Care. This initiated our creation of The Empowering REACH Foundation in 2024. Many are discharged without basic necessities and face immediate housing insecurity. Minority seniors experience 35% higher institutional placement rates due to inadequate post-discharge support. Without essentials like clean clothing and hygiene products, these individuals struggle to maintain dignity and independence during this transition.
Our target population - predominantly Black and Latino senior and disabled households - face ongoing systemic barriers to accessing support services, including language barriers and transportation limitations. The absence of culturally responsive resources creates a dangerous gap where individuals cycle between homelessness, hospitalization, and institutionalization instead of aging with dignity and stability.

With LA2050 funds, we will grow our Dignity Kit program, providing over 2,000 kits containing essential hygiene items and clothing to vulnerable seniors and disabled adults discharged from hospitals around LA County. Each customized kit (about $33/unit) includes:
- Shampoo/conditioner and soap
- Toothbrush/toothpaste and deodorant
- Undergarments and socks
- Seasonal clothing items (sweatshirts, shoes)
- Reusable water bottles
- Multilingual resource guides connecting recipients to housing assistance

Beyond material support, our Dignity Kits also serve as entry points to support services.
Each kit distribution includes a brief needs assessment and connections to programs for those at imminent risk of eviction.

Implementation includes:
Current strategic partnerships with hospitals and senior service agencies for efficient distribution
Volunteer-driven kit assembly engaging diverse community members
Multilingual outreach ensuring equitable access across LA
30-day follow-up with recipients to track housing stability and service connections

This approach addresses both immediate dignity needs and underlying housing and financial insecurity by connecting vulnerable seniors and disabled neighbors with resources before they fall into homelessness. As an organization founded by a Social Worker with 18+ years of senior care experience, we bring the professional expertise and deep community connections required to successfully execute this critical work.

We have no doubt that our success would transform LA County by creating a community where vulnerable seniors and disabled adults maintain dignity and housing stability after hospitalization. LA can shift from reactive crisis management to a dignified, person-centered model where vulnerable residents remain housed, healthy, and connected to community resources - creating pathways to aging with dignity for thousands.
In year one, 2,000+ vulnerable individuals will receive essential items during critical transitions, with 60% reporting improved wellbeing at follow-ups and a 25% reduction in hospital readmissions. Each kit will serve as a gateway to stable housing and ongoing support.
By 2027, our model can fundamentally disrupt the hospital-to-homelessness pipeline that disproportionately affects minority seniors. Healthcare partners can adopt our approach as standard practice, addressing both immediate needs and underlying housing insecurity.