While Los Angeles is one of the most affluent cities in the world, at the beginning of 2020 it was estimated that 17,000 children were homeless.

Even more young people are expected to become homeless due to the COVID pandemic. LAHSA Executive Director Heidi Marston remarked, “Youth who experience homelessness are more likely to be women, Black, Latinx or identify as LGBT+.” 

So how are youth affected by homelessness? They are 9x more likely to repeat a grade, 3x more likely to be placed in special education, and 4x more likely to drop out of school entirely according to School on Wheels.

There are an estimated 6,000 young people ages 18-24 living on the streets of Los Angles. Around 3,000 of them have aged out of the foster care system and must deal with PTSD and no family support.

In America, 1 out of every 30 children are homeless, but in California 1 in 20 youth are homeless. The homeless population in LA has outpaced that of New York City.

Create Now’s arts programs become extremely important for youngsters who do not have a stable home. The arts allow kids to use their imaginations and express themselves creatively.

Through Cultural Journeys, we give youth opportunities to experience events that expose them to a variety of art forms. This can generate a lifelong love of music, art, writing, photography, theater, and other arts disciplines. It can also lead to a successful career when they become adults.

Click here to watch a video of Create Now’s arts program provided to homeless children at Union Rescue Mission in Skid Row.

While Los Angeles is one of the most affluent cities in the world, at the beginning of 2020 it was estimated that 17,000 children were homeless. Even more young people are expected to become homeless due to the COVID pandemic. LAHSA Executive Director Heidi Marston...