RCDC Day of Dignity Homeless Service Program

Affordable housing and homelessness

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

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Restoration Community Development Corporation (RCDC) recognizes unsheltered homelessness in Los Angeles County as a humanitarian crisis that must be addressed with urgency and compassion. LA County leads the nation in homelessness, with 5 to 10 individuals dying each day while living on the streets—often from preventable conditions tied to prolonged exposure, untreated illness, and lack of basic hygiene. The longer individuals remain unsheltered, the more their mental and physical health deteriorates, creating deeper barriers to recovery and stability. RCDC understands that access to hygiene and human dignity is the first step toward healing. Through its Day of Dignity events, RCDC offers more than showers and clean clothing—it provides a gateway to comprehensive care through trusted partnerships offering housing assistance, medical and behavioral health services, and vital support that provides coordinated action to preserve life, restore dignity, and promote long-term well-being.

Hosting a Day of Dignity event requires strategic coordination, deep community partnerships, and a trauma-informed, client-centered approach to meaningfully support individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Restoration Community Development Corporation (RCDC) leads a six-week planning process involving faith-based and community-based partners, volunteers, and a network of public and private agencies. Each event is a collaborative effort that includes planning menus, securing hygiene stations, and coordinating transportation, supplies, and logistics. RCDC begins outreach to service providers at least 30 days in advance to ensure their participation can be calendared and resourced. These providers specialize in housing navigation, behavioral and physical health, substance use treatment, case management, employment, and entitlement benefits. Beginning seven days before the event, daily street outreach engages the target population, offering personal invitations and trusted connections. RCDC ensures the event is culturally relevant, low-barrier, and rooted in dignity—offering showers, clean clothing, food, and onsite support services in a welcoming space. Volunteers and partners are trained to engage participants with empathy and respect. Through this model, RCDC has helped hundreds transition to housing, employment, and wellness. The Day of Dignity functions as a gateway to recovery, a demonstration of community solidarity, and a path toward long-term self-sufficiency.

If RCDC’s vision is realized, Los Angeles County will see a transformative shift in how services are initiated and delivered to individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Our Day of Dignity model restores humanity first—by meeting immediate needs for hygiene, food, and compassion—before introducing clinical or support services. This trauma-informed, whole-person care model bridges the current disconnect between service delivery and client readiness. RCDC envisions hosting Day of Dignity events three times per week and offering intensive case management twice weekly, serving as the central coordinator for care. By tracking services from outreach through housing placement, RCDC ensures continuity and accountability across providers. This scalable model creates a consistent, trusted access point for engagement and services across LA County. With strong partnerships and community collaboration, RCDC is redefining how we bring people off the streets.