In Los Angeles County, where more than 72,000 individuals experience homelessness on any given night, the need for a skilled, compassionate workforce has never been greater. That’s why we celebrate a remarkable group of 22 students who have stepped up to meet that need by completing the Santa Monica College’s Homeless Service Work (HSW) program.
On June 9, these graduates not only completed a program; they are answering a call to service. They represent a new wave of professionals equipped with the knowledge, hands-on experience, and spirit required to address one of our region’s most urgent humanitarian crises.
Celina Alvarez, a faculty member and co-founder of this program, told the recent graduates that this field needs them not just today but for the long haul. “Tonight you not only earned a certificate. You received an invitation to continue learning, growing, showing up, to continue being part of a movement that believes every human being deserves dignity, belonging, and a place to call home.”
Launched in 2024, the HSW program was designed as a first-of-its-kind training pipeline, preparing students to become street outreach workers, case managers, and housing navigators. Training was a vital component that was outlined in our 2024 Workforce Recruitment Report.
Thanks to continued investment—including a $355,000 boost from United Way of Greater Los Angeles— the program has expanded its reach and impact, helping remove financial barriers so students can fully commit to their training and mission. The entire second cohort of students was able to participate in this program with all costs covered thanks to this investment.
Each student completes 50 hours of fieldwork with nonprofit partners, gaining firsthand exposure to the realities of homelessness services by being placed at work-based learning sites. Through this immersive approach, students build essential skills in crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, housing navigation, client engagement, and case management.
This holistic support system ensures that graduates don’t just complete the program—they leave it prepared, confident, and connected to meaningful career pathways.
The importance of this work cannot be overstated. A recent workforce analysis highlighted a significant gap in training within the homelessness services sector, with 60% of case managers identifying lack of training as their biggest challenge.
By equipping students with role-specific, skills-based learning, the HSW program is helping to strengthen workforce retention, improve service quality, and ultimately drive better outcomes for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Natalia Silva, one of the graduates, acknowledged that they are entering a field that “requires empathy, communication, and the ability to work through very difficult conversations.” But thanks to this program, she feels she and her peers are “ready to challenge the systems, ready to make a difference and ready to serve our communities.”
These graduates are now part of a growing movement of professionals dedicated to creating lasting solutions to end homelessness in Los Angeles County. United Way is proud to partner with Santa Monica College in making the Homeless Service Work program possible to support neighbors, uplift lives, and help build a more equitable Los Angeles where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Congratulations, graduates—you are truly the frontline heroes our community needs!