Black People Experiencing
Homelessness (BPEH)
Implementation

Steering Committee

The Black People Experiencing Homelessness (BPEH) Implementation Steering Committee is working to develop and implement a comprehensive action plan for advancing a transformative, anti-racist homelessness system that reduces the number of Black people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles.

The County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors’ July 2020 motion establishing the Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative comprises of eight core directives, including developing an action plan to implement the 67 recommendations developed by the Ad-Hoc Committee on Black People Experiencing Homelessness.

Steering Committee Objectives

1

Prioritize provisions in the 2018 Report and Recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee for immediate, mid-term, and long-term implementation

2

Develop a detailed action plan with metrics and target outcomes to operationalize 2018 Report recommendation over the next ten years

3

Increase coordination and alignment across agencies, County departments, organizations, and systems to implement recommendations with a focus on prevention, culturally relevant approaches, and equitable CES access

4

Monitor progress and evaluate our efforts to assess impact and report on progress annually

Committee Structure

The BPEH Implementation Steering Committee will consist of volunteers representing a cross-section of stakeholders from the County of Los Angeles, LAHSA, City of Los Angeles, service providers, community advocates, and individuals with lived experience. The Los Angeles County Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative will provide backbone support and technical assistance. St. Joseph Center will provide logistical support, including managing stipends for individuals and community-based organizations (CBOs) serving on the Committee.

The Steering Committee will serve as the core leadership group for a broader Black People Experiencing Homelessness Work Group, slated to launch in 2022. The Work Group will be responsible for coordinating and implementing the action plan developed by the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee will inform the Work Group’s composition, guide the Work Group’s strategy, and support leading issue-specific sub-groups of the Work Group, as needed.

Reports

The Road May Be Long, But the Journey is Just

The report, The Road May Be Long, But the Journey is Just, contains the 2023 update and implementation roadmap on the recommendations of the BPEH Ad Hoc Committee which includes an update on the efforts to prioritize a set of recommendations focused on reducing racial disparities in homelessness. Click here to view the report.

Steering Committee Members

Member Name

Affiliation

Dr. Va Lecia Adams-Kellum

St. Joseph Center

Rev. Eddie Anderson

LA Voice / McCarty Memorial Christian Church

Dr. Jack Barbour

Southern California Health and Rehabilitation Program (SCHARP)

Leticia Colchado

Los Angeles County, Homeless Initiative

Vanessa Guillen

Los Angeles County, Homeless Initiative

Ronnell Hampton

City of Los Angeles

Janet Kelly

Sanctuary of Hope

Veronica Lewis

Homeless Outreach Program Integrated Care System (HOPICS)

Tracy Malbrough

Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA)

Jonathan Nomachi

Los Angeles County, Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative

Alice Okali

Los Angeles County, Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative

Alisa Orduna

Florence Aliese Advancement Network

Gerardo Ramirez

Los Angeles County, Homeless Initiative

Dr. D’Artagnan Scorza

Los Angeles County, Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative

Suzette Shaw

Community advocate

Reba Stevens

Community advocate

Alexis Tanner

St. Joseph Center

Clifton Trotter

Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA)

Dr. Tolu Wuraola

Los Angeles County, Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative

Partners

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