LOS ANGELES, April 24, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United East Prevention Project is reporting today that women living on the streets of Boyle Heights and other marginalized communities face numerous threats to their health and safety and are all too often stigmatized, even in death.  Lorenza Arellano's tragic death is evidence of the general systemic malaise and failure that devalues the lives of those on society's margins.

A new report entitled "Barriers to Wellness", released this month by Social Model Recovery Systems, Inc., highlights the devastating impacts of living on the streets and demands changes to how we treat our most vulnerable.  The report addresses many of the community health issues that may have contributed to Lorenza's death.  The six-month community study includes approximately 300 interviews with housed and homeless residents of the Boyle Heights and Lincoln Heights neighborhoods which revealed:

• A dramatic increase of nuisance activity at local parks during evening hours;
• Housed residents are very concerned about the neighborhood's homeless;
• More than 1/3 of homeless residents surveyed had relatives living in the area; and
• Nearly half of homeless residents indicated a need for shelter/housing and 21% perceived LAC+USC Medical Center as "where they stayed/lived".

WHAT: Press event regarding factors that led to Lorenza Arellano's lifeless body found floating in the lake at Hollenbeck Park in Boyle Heights on March 27, 2014.

WHEN: Friday, April 25, 2014
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Hollenbeck Park Lake (Corner of Hollenbeck Dr. & Boyle Ave.)
415 S. St Louis St, Los Angeles, CA 90033

WHO: Proyecto Pastoral at Dolores Mission, East Los Angeles Women's Center, Social Model Recovery Systems, Inc., Justice for My Sister, Mujeres de Maiz, and Restorative Justice.

WHY: The community is calling for unity in demanding a thorough investigation of Lorenza's death, a closer examination of contributing social factors, including park safety, lack of affordable housing and increased services for women, families and homeless individuals.

Contact:
Raquel Román, Proyecto Pastoral - Spanish, 323.881.0032 / rroman@proyectopastoral.org
Carla Osorio-Veliz, East LA Women's Center - English, 323.526.5819 / cosorio@elawc.org
Elizabeth Huesca, Social Model Recovery Systems, Inc.– English, 213.622.1621 ext.221 / ElizabethH@socialmodel.com

SOURCE United East Prevention Project