Whole-Person Care in North L.A. County

Affordable housing and homelessness

Antelope Valley

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

The Antelope Valley is facing a worsening homelessness crisis, with a 42% increase in the unhoused population over the past year and more than double the number since 2018. Roughly 83% of individuals experiencing homelessness in the region are unsheltered, often living in isolated desert encampments where they endure extreme heat, poor health conditions, and little to no access to essential services. Once considered a more affordable alternative to central LA, Lancaster has seen rising housing costs that have pushed many vulnerable residents into homelessness. There is a critical shortage of transitional, recovery-oriented programs for individuals discharged from hospitals who are struggling with chronic medical, behavioral, and substance use conditions. Without support, these individuals face worsening health and repeated homelessness. Our day habilitation program will address this gap by providing structured care, service navigation, and stability to support lasting recovery.

This grant will support the launch of Harbor Care Foundation’s new day habilitation program at our 23-bed recuperative care facility in Lancaster. The program will provide structured, daytime support and services for individuals experiencing homelessness, particularly those recently discharged from hospitals or living with chronic physical, mental, or behavioral health conditions.
The program will operate five days per week and offer a safe, supportive environment where participants can build essential life skills training, enhance independence, and promote overall well-being during their recovery. Services include educational workshops, job readiness training, health and wellness activities, life coaching, social engagement opportunities, and assistance with daily living skills. The program aims to empower participants to achieve their personal goals, integrate into the community, and transition successfully to stable housing and employment.
By addressing both medical and social needs in a coordinated setting, our day habilitation program will fill a critical service gap in the Antelope Valley. It is designed not only to prevent repeated hospitalizations and worsening health conditions, but also to serve as a pathway to permanent housing and independence. This project directly responds to the escalating rates of homelessness in the region and aims to reduce harm, improve health outcomes, and restore dignity to some of our most vulnerable neighbors.

If our work is successful, LA County—particularly the underserved Antelope Valley—will be a healthier, more humane place for individuals experiencing homelessness. People who were once isolated in desert encampments, living with untreated illnesses and no access to care, will have a safe, supportive space to stabilize, heal, and begin rebuilding their lives. Instead of cycling between the streets, emergency rooms, and jails, they will receive daily support that addresses the root causes of homelessness.
Hospitals and emergency services will feel less pressure from preventable readmissions and crisis interventions. Community members will see fewer encampments and greater evidence of progress—people recovering, accessing housing, and contributing to their neighborhoods. By bridging the gap between hospital discharge and long-term housing, our day habilitation model can be scaled and replicated, creating a more effective, compassionate system of care across L.A. County.