LA Emissary

The Los Angeles Emissary (LAE), a project of Community Initiatives, advances housing justice for youth and young adults in Los Angeles County by centering the voices and leadership of those with lived experience of homelessness and system involvement as co-decision makers within the homeless response system; training a network of young people across L.A. County with skills needed to become advocates around funding and policy priorities related to homelessness; and engaging in collaborative decision making to address youth homelessness with young people, funders, providers, county, and system partners. Through a ground-breaking homeless system redesign, we aim to create a youth centered approach that effectively meets the needs and aspirations of unhoused young people.

Our team is comprised of young people with lived experience of homelessness and systems impact. Together, we aim to:

• Build and strengthen coordination of systems that most impact youth and young adults across LA County.
• Grow youth power in homelessness/housing systems leadership and decision-making.
• Attain long-term sustainability in Los Angeles County advancing housing justice for youth and young adults.