Hilton Foundation Announces $7.8 Million Grant To End Chronic Homelessness In Los Angeles County

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation recently approved $7.8 million for the "Home For Good" action plan, a partnership between the public, private, and philanthropic sectors to end chronic and veteran homelessness in Los Angeles County by 2016. 

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Los Angeles is sometimes called the "homeless capital of the nation."  In 2011, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority reported over 51,000 persons experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County every night; 12,500 of them are long-term or chronically homeless individuals. Permanent supportive housing, which combines affordable housing with supportive services, has proven to be a highly cost-effective way to end long-term homelessness for people facing complex challenges, including mental illness, substance abuse, and physical disabilities. 

"We know permanent supportive housing works," said Steven M. Hilton, Chairman, President & CEO of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.  "Philanthropy can play a key role in bringing together very different players to address a complex issue such as ending homelessness.  Home For Good demonstrates that funding partnerships can leverage and align funding, and increase coordination between public and private sectors."

In 2010, the Hilton Foundation provided funding to United Way of Greater Los Angeles for the launch of Home For Good.  With over 100 signatories, the plan has received broad support from a unique cross-section of public, private, philanthropic, and community stakeholders.  In 2011, the Hilton Foundation provided a $1 million challenge grant to seed the Home For Good Funders Collaborative, a group of 24 public and private funders, which is the first of its kind in Los Angeles. This was matched with $4 million in philanthropic funds and aligned with $100 million in public resources awarded to 30 nonprofit service providers in July 2012.

"The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation's 2011 challenge grant was instrumental in bringing together public and private funders to the Home For Good Funders Collaborative, resulting in a phenomenal total of $105 million in resources," said Elise Buik, President & CEO of United Way of Greater Los Angeles. "These funds will change the lives of thousands of our homeless neighbors and allows us to broaden and deepen our work to engage all sectors in this effort."

Of the newly announced $7.8 million grant, $5.5 million will serve as a challenge grant over the next three years.  United Way will match Hilton Foundation funds with $14 million from other private and philanthropic funders. The remaining funding from the Hilton Foundation will support United Way's efforts to build public will through their annual HomeWalk, a 5K run/walk to end homelessness, and improve coordination among key players in the fight to end chronic and veteran homelessness. This includes a targeted effort to lead cross-sector engagement in downtown's Skid Row, home to the largest and most visible concentration of homeless persons in the region.

For more information on Home For Good, visit:  http://www.homeforgoodla.org.

About the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation was created in 1944 by international business pioneer Conrad N. Hilton, who founded Hilton Hotels and left his fortune to help the world's disadvantaged and vulnerable people. The Foundation currently conducts strategic initiatives in six priority areas: providing safe water, ending chronic homelessness, preventing substance abuse, helping children affected by HIV/AIDS, supporting transition-age youth in foster care, and extending Conrad Hilton's support for the work of Catholic Sisters. Following selection by an independent international jury, the Foundation annually awards the $1.5 million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize to a nonprofit organization doing extraordinary work to reduce human suffering. From its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than $1 billion in grants, distributing $82 million in the U.S. and around the world in 2011.  The Foundation's current assets are approximately $2 billion. For more information, please visit www.hiltonfoundation.org.

About United Way of Greater Los Angeles
United Way of Greater Los Angeles is a nonprofit organization that creates pathways out of poverty by helping homeless people move into housing, providing students with the support they need to graduate high school prepared for college and the workforce, and helping hard-working families become financially stable. United Way identifies the root causes of poverty and works strategically to solve them by building alliances across all sectors, funding targeted programs and advocating for change. For more information, visit www.unitedwayla.org.

Related Links:
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation: Working to End Chronic Homelessness
Home For Good: An Action Plan to End Chronic and Veteran Homelessness in Los Angeles County by 2016

Contact: Marc Moorghen
(310) 556-4694
[email protected]

SOURCE Conrad N. Hilton Foundation