On June 7, 2017, the Los Angeles County’s Homeless Initiative and LA Voice, a local multi-ethnic, interfaith organization of 60 congregations across LA County, hosted the county’s first Interfaith Summit on Homelessness, with support from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. The summit, titled “Pursuing the Promise Together,” focused on combating homelessness by building collaboration and a common vision between faith organizations and the county, highlighted Homeless Initiative Strategies on which the county and faith organizations can partner, and created avenues for faith organizations to connect to the Coordinated Entry System.

To support the faith organizations’ discernment process, the county developed a “Discernment Guide” to help faith organizations prepare for collaboration. Through this discernment process, 31 faith organizations expressed interest in exploring partnerships with the county in support of one or more specific Homeless Initiative strategies and are currently collaborating with county departments and the Los Angeles Homeless Services.

Authority to discern how each faith organization can support the countywide homeless system. The Homeless Initiative and LA Voice are committed to continued engagement with faith organizations to build capacity and partner in a meaningful way to combat homelessness. 

Aside from the support received from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, via a grant to LA Voice, there has been no cost for the county to pursue this collaboration with the faith community. 

The Discernment Guide can be accessed here.