Healing Through Housing: Integrating Occupational Therapy for LA’s Unhoused

Affordable housing and homelessness

Central LA East LA South LA City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit)

Applying a proven solution to a new issue or sector (using an existing model, tool, resource, strategy, etc. for a new purpose)

Los Angeles County’s homelessness crisis continues to grow, with many unhoused individuals facing complex barriers to stability, including physical impairments, untreated mental illness, and limited access to meaningful rehabilitative services. While housing and mental health programs offer vital support, many residents continue to struggle with daily functioning, self-care, and reintegration. These challenges are rarely addressed in traditional service models, leaving individuals vulnerable to recurring crises and displacement. The lack of occupational therapy in homeless services represents a significant gap in care, one that, if filled, could dramatically improve long-term outcomes and promote sustained independence.

This initiative will integrate occupational therapy into an existing supportive housing framework to provide trauma informed, client-centered care that enhances the ability of unhoused individuals to function independently. Services will focus on daily living skills, stress regulation, time management, and vocational readiness, with personalized treatment plans developed in collaboration with case managers and mental health staff. Occupational therapists will conduct functional assessments, deliver individual and group interventions, and support residents in transitioning to more stable living environments. The program will prioritize high-need clients with co-occurring mental health and physical conditions, who often cycle through emergency services due to a lack of rehabilitative support.
The grant will support the hiring of two part-time occupational therapists, staff training, and the development of an integrated care protocol. Services will be delivered onsite at our supportive housing facilities and in community-based settings. Research has shown that occupational therapy in homeless services can improve client outcomes related to self-care, community reintegration, and quality of life (Scaffa & Reitz, 2020, Occupational Therapy in Community-Based Practice Settings). This program represents a scalable model that can be adapted to other supportive housing programs across the county, ultimately strengthening the continuum of care for LA’s most vulnerable residents.

This initiative will expand the standard of care in homeless services by incorporating rehabilitative support that improves daily functioning and self-sufficiency. Residents will be better equipped to manage routines, access resources, and sustain housing. This approach can lead to fewer hospitalizations and decreased use of emergency services, easing pressure on public systems. As the model is refined and proven effective, it can inform broader policy and program design, helping Los Angeles County adopt more comprehensive strategies for addressing homelessness that prioritize long-term stability and well-being. By centering functional recovery alongside housing, this program will help redefine what it means to truly support individuals in rebuilding their lives.