The WIN App Spanish Outreach Initiative

Affordable housing and homelessness

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)

The WIN App Spanish Outreach Initiative addresses LA County's homeless crisis in Spanish-speaking communities. The Greater LA Homeless Count reported 75,312 unhoused people living in Los Angeles County in 2024 – a majority (54%) becoming homeless due to economic hardship. About 15% of Latinos are living below poverty level, and in 2024, while the number of people experiencing homelessness in LA declined overall, the number of Latinos experiencing homelessness increased — Latinos now make up 43% of the unhoused population in LA County.
Homeless and resource-insecure individuals too often do not know how to navigate the social services system to locate the help they need. The WIN App, available in Spanish and English, empowers struggling Spanish speakers with a free and confidential way to search for and access available programs plus learn about eligibility requirements and locations. WIN Spanish supports homeless and struggling Latino populations making positive changes in their lives.

The WIN App Spanish Outreach Initiative (WIN Spanish) is designed to build trust and raise awareness about the free WIN App among high need Spanish speaking individuals. Struggling Latinx populations are hard to reach, do not trust easily, and need culturally relevant messaging and encouragement to use this life-changing tool. WIN Spanish builds upon the success of a mini pilot (Winter 2025) that focused on eight zip codes in Southeast LA and reached over 100,000 people!
Designed as a social equity tool and available 24/7, WIN is anonymous and confidential, breaking service information barriers while maintaining user dignity and privacy. Leveraging the Federal Lifeline Program that provides free cell phones to anyone living at or below the federal poverty level, WIN offers users live connections to over 2,400 programs in twelve categories of services including healthcare, jobs, food, shelter and HUD housing, legal aid, crisis support/hotlines, education, drop-in centers, transit, and more. WIN provides detailed summaries of provider services and direct links to program information. Searches can be narrowed by geography, population demographic, or service category. Unique icons categorize services specifically for youth ages 12-25 and seniors 55+.
WIN Spanish will expand upon the mini-pilot's success and target chosen high concentration Latinx communities providing culturally appropriate, targeted social media, videos, community partner education, and regional outreach.

If WIN Spanish is successful, it will strengthen the safety net available to LA County residents and LA will be a more equitable, connected, and resilient community where fewer Spanish speaking individuals fall through the cracks simply because they do not know where to turn for help. Barriers to critical information will be broken down, allowing Latinx individuals in need—without a referral or gatekeeper—to privately and easily access free, local supportive services 24/7.
More Spanish speaking individuals experiencing homelessness or resource insecurities will know how to use WIN to quickly and efficiently find help, reducing suffering and supporting faster stabilization. Vulnerable populations, especially youth/families/seniors, will have direct pathways to appropriate, trustworthy resources. WIN Spanish will help create a culture of self-advocacy and connectedness where those most at risk know how to access help, can seek help anonymously, and feel empowered to do so.