Homeless Service Program

Providing case management service to persons to help end homelessness and for those who are housed and looking for either upgrades in employment or have had a job loss and are actively looking for work. Develop self-sufficiency plans, which will consist of client based appropriate interventions and leading toward achieving permanent housing and self-sufficiency.  Services to be provided will depend on this plan.  Generally, counseling and career development support: motivational seminars, job search assistance, transport to go for interviewing, the use of the office address for submitting applications, is also provided.  If the individual self-sufficiency plans include treatments for substance abuse and other problems, referrals will be made to treatment centers with which LSS/SC has working relationships.

Housing eligible CalWORKs beneficiaries

Lutheran Social Services North L.A. manages the ESSP program for the County and City of Los Angeles under Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). Funding for this program comes from the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) and it provides temporary shelter at a local motel to families in a temporary shelter so that they can focus and concentrate on looking for employment and then, transitional or permanent housing. Families are referred to services through Homeless Case Managers at local area DPSS offices; those referrals are submitted for approval to LAHSA. LAHSA is entirely responsible for authorizing services to families based on their activities within the DPSS rules and guidelines. Heads of households are required to participate in various activities but they are mainly required to look for and secure employment shortly after their entering the ESS Program in order to keep receiving a motel voucher. Participant families have access to employment services through their GAIN workers and also from LSS case managers. Housing locator’s are available to all participants at each DPSS office and LSS can make referrals back to those offices so that participant families can also access a 12 – month Rental Assistance Subsidy through county monies for move-in expenses, appliances and partial rental payments. Housing can be transitional or permanent. Participating families have a total of 90 days of this benefit if they meet and follow all rules, regulations and guidelines from DPSS and LSS.

Eviction Prevention Program

Helping low-income families in Santa Clarita from being evicted. Help in meeting rent obligation of most needy low-income families in the City of Santa Clarita.  Individuals who want to move to lower rent residences to avoid eviction from their current residences will also be given cost of moving assistance if the need is clearly established.  Some help with move in funds for those who are short a small amount for moving into housing.

Contact: Linda Malerba, 661-298-8972
lmalerba@lsssc.org