Streets to Suites Program

Our Streets to Suites program is a crucial resource designed to assist law enforcement in situations where community members are facing hardships such as homelessness and are in urgent need of safe housing for the night. Various circumstances like domestic violence, displacement from natural disasters, house fires, burglaries, or assaults may prompt our intervention. This program provides temporary shelter, serving as a transitional solution for families and individuals dealing with severe medical conditions. Beyond just offering a short-term refuge, we extend support services and link clients to vital resources to aid them in their path towards regaining stability.

When traditional law enforcement strategies have been fully utilized, our organization intervenes to offer immediate assistance to individuals in crisis. Collaborating closely with law enforcement and local resources, we strive to promptly extract community members from perilous circumstances and provide them with temporary refuge. Our primary objective is to alleviate the anxiety, despondency, and feelings of helplessness that frequently accompany such high-stress scenarios.
 

Through the Streets to Suites program, we aim to serve as a beacon of hope and a driver of positive transformation in the lives of individuals grappling with significant challenges. Our approach revolves around establishing a safe and supportive environment where individuals can seek comfort and assistance while navigating tough situations. We are dedicated to diligently working during operational hours to secure sustainable solutions for each individual or family through our extensive network of community partners.

Our community partners provide a range of services, including but not limited to:

- Hygiene Products

- Clothing

- Baby Items

- Childcare

- Mental Health Support

- Grocery Assistance

- Braiding Services

- Fitness and Exercise Classes

- Nutrition and Healthy Cooking Classes

- Medi-Cal Enrollment Assistance

- Addiction Counseling

- Drug and Alcohol Individual and Group Therapy

- Parent Support Groups

- Workshops

- Peer Support

- Anonymous Helpline

Together, we strive to empower individuals and families to overcome obstacles and build a brighter future.

The initiative originated from a discussion with law enforcement officials, who identified a pressing need for assistance in helping families who show up at the station or are encountered by deputies during patrols, with no other place to turn to. They shared a touching account of a single mother with two children, escaping domestic abuse and left stranded at the station, underscoring the critical nature of the issue. Voices of Our Youth adapted an existing program to address these specific requirements.

In response to the urgent need, Voices of Our Youth took action and partnered with law enforcement officials and Motel 6 to create the Streets to Suites initiative. Launched on January 24, 2024, the program has received praise and has grown beyond its original emergency voucher service to meet the high volume of requests for support.
 

As we prepare for Phase 2 of our program, which centers on interim housing, our goal is to extend ongoing assistance to individuals and families beyond the emergency voucher phase. This phase will offer extra support as clients progress towards transitioning into transitional, semi-permanent, or permanent housing. Our objective is to offer housing for a period of up to 90 days, with the target of relocating clients to more secure housing within 30 days.

Clients in transitional housing will receive weekly vouchers and will be required to meet attainable objectives in order to qualify for the following week's voucher. Through actively pursuing these objectives, clients are making strides towards overcoming obstacles to self-reliance and are responsible for their advancement. Falling short of these objectives could lead to the postponement of the next week's voucher, underscoring the significance of dedication and diligence in the program.

In this stage, we will focus on supporting families experiencing homelessness. Our objective is to assist in transitioning children from the streets to stable living situations, allowing them to focus on their education and well-being. A child's environment significantly impacts their learning capabilities and academic performance, ultimately influencing various aspects of their lives.
 

At Voices of Our Youth, we are dedicated to the transformative power of initiatives like Streets to Suites. This program has the potential to positively affect both individuals facing homelessness and law enforcement personnel. By providing support to the homeless population, while also empowering officers with additional tools for compassionate community service, Streets to Suites is a unique and impactful solution.
 

By providing officers with the necessary resources to support community members in difficult situations, Streets to Suites plays a crucial role in reducing the need for using force and making unnecessary arrests. This proactive approach benefits not only the community at large but also contributes to the well-being of law enforcement personnel. Empowering officers to aid individuals in crisis enhances public safety and safeguards the mental health and resilience of those who courageously serve on the front lines. 

The emotional strain of being unable to assist someone in need can take a toll on an officer's mental state. Over time, this feeling of helplessness could result in biases and negative responses that might affect their interactions with the community. Through the Streets to Suites initiative, our goal is to reinvigorate the sense of purpose among law enforcement officers, enabling them to carry out their duty with empathy and efficiency, ensuring they can help, protect, and serve with compassion.
 

By empowering officers through this innovative program, we aim to improve community relations and cultivate a spirit of partnership and cooperation between law enforcement and residents. Streets to Suites acts as a connection point between various societal groups, encouraging mutual understanding, compassion, and constructive interaction that positively impacts all participants.
 

Voices of Our Youth is dedicated to supporting the overall well-being of community members facing homelessness and the hardworking law enforcement officers who uphold public safety through our Through the Streets to Suites program. By working together, we aim to foster a more inclusive, empathetic, and peaceful society where all individuals have the chance to flourish and make positive contributions towards the common good.
 

Streets to Suites was created in response to a request from law enforcement and was first tested at the Lancaster Sheriff's Station. Each time a voucher was utilized, it presented a unique scenario, providing valuable insights for enhancing and expanding the program. We are now prepared to introduce the program at the Palmdale Station. We understand that neighboring cities may face similar challenges but require tailored solutions to meet their specific needs. Our goal is to eventually extend the program to all 23 stations within the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department as we establish the program, build partnerships, secure funding, and gain momentum.