January 28, 2008

Dear Colleagues,

United Way of Greater Los Angeles is proud to announce the availability of funds resulting from our first annual HomeWalk in November 2007.

Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of over 4,000 walkers who participated in HomeWalk, we have $500,000 available to be distributed to programs successfully reducing homelessness among families and chronically homeless individuals.

The A Pathway Home* Request for Proposal (RFP) focuses on two primary strategies that have been proven to reduce homelessness:

• Rapid rehousing for families
• Permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals

United Way’s new ten-year action plan focuses on creating pathways out of poverty and improving the quality of life for all in Greater Los Angeles. Nowhere is that poverty more evident than in the lives of the 73,000 people who are homeless in our county every night.

I invite you to review the documents below and submit a proposal if you determine it fits within your organization’s mission and strategies.

The challenge facing us is daunting. But I am confident in our collective energy, innovation and commitment to overcome this crisis and end homelessness for good in our community.

Sincerely,

Elise Buik
President, CEO
United Way of Greater Los Angeles

*A Pathway Home is United Way’s initiative to prevent and end homelessness in Los Angeles County by engaging the community, strengthening the service network with strategic funding and capacity building, and bringing the public and private sectors together to work collaboratively around this issue.