Recovery Coach and residence fees for women’s recovery housing.

Affordable housing and homelessness

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

Substance use disorder (SUD) and high housing costs are two root causes of homelessness in LA. SUD is a chronic condition requiring ongoing support and stability for effective recovery. Completing a treatment program is a critical step but often services end prematurely due to government and insurance company regulations set without consideration for the individuals’ needs. This gap in care puts the onus on the individual to secure stable housing essential for maintaining sobriety. For those emerging from SUD treatment, the high cost of housing in LA is a formidable barrier. The median rent in LA far exceeds what most in recovery can afford having been out of the workforce due to SUD or working low-wage jobs as they rebuild their lives. This lack of affordable housing, compounded by insufficient services undermines recovery efforts and perpetuates homelessness.

LARC is a Recovery Community Organization (RCO) providing affordable housing for women in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). RCOs are non-profits led by peers in recovery applying an innovative approach to SUD recovery due to their ability to operate independent of the healthcare system. We seek funds to support three key parts of our Housing Program: the Resident Scholarship Fund (RSF), Rent Subsidy Initiative (RSI), and dedicated Recovery Coach (RC). The RSF allows residents to defer rent costs while solidifying their recovery and seeking employment. The RSI covers the $200 difference between the amount our 2 residents pay for rent ($800 per month) and the current rent cost ($1,000 per month). The RC is a staff member with lived experience trained in helping individuals maintain recovery. Residents come to LARC from myriad situations. T, a 32-year-old Native American woman, arrived at LARC 8 weeks ago after losing custody of her 3 children due to prolonged substance use, which led to her becoming unhoused. Lacking funds for rent, she utilized LARC’s RSF program, signing a contract to begin payment once employed. With housing secured for 2 years, our RC began individualized recovery coaching. As of the writing of this grant, T’s recovery remains stable, employed and has resumed relations with her kids. LARC’s Housing Program is a unique approach to ending the cycle of substance use and homelessness.

If all under-resourced people suffering from SUD had access to affordable housing and the level of support for the prolonged duration offered by LARC’s Housing Program, Los Angeles’ homeless population would be significantly reduced. Supporting these individuals with our recovery continuum-of-care model benefits these mothers, daughters, family members, friends, who work, pay taxes, buy groceries & raise children. If this population is healthy & housed, taxpayer burden is decreased and a culture of compassion and social responsibility within LA County is fostered. Short-term success would be to have 100% occupancy with 100% recovery maintained for current residents and alumni with no returns to homelessness. Long-term impact would be to leverage the program’s success for a replicable model leading to county-wide access to affordable peer recovery residences and services for under-resourced people recovering from SUD and a significant decrease in the unhoused population in LA County.

Since opening in Jan. 2023, LARC’s Residence Program has produced 2 graduates who maintain recovery, are employed and have reconnected with family. Current residents, T & H, are maintaining recovery, employed, and have re-established relations with their children. In Jan. of 2025, we eagerly anticipate the graduation of H, marking our first resident to take advantage of the entire 2 year program. Recently, H obtained her class A trucking license in pursuit of a long distance trucking career fulfilling her dream of traveling the US. Program impact is gauged by key performance measures in our 3 year strategic plan: LARC provides housing for 2 women in recovery; residents maintain recovery evidenced by random drug testing; residents demonstrate self-efficacy and independence by maintaining recovery, gaining employment/school enrollment, reliable transportation and stay outside the legal system; data from bi-weekly resident surveys shows improvement.