A RefugeÂ
For Young People Impacted by Homelessness
If you’re a young person impacted by homelessness, learn more about the free resources, care, and community My Friend's Place offers.
At My Friend’s Place, young people — ages 12 through 24 — can take a breath, move beyond day-to-day survival challenges, and take the first steps toward building the life they dream of.
What We Do
Every number tells a story. These 2025 stats don’t paint the full picture, but they reflect real moments of growth, connection, and hope.
The Hidden Crisis of Youth Homelessness
Every day, nearly 4,000 young people in LA County are without a safe place to call home. Some have aged out of foster care with nowhere to turn. Others are escaping abuse or coming from families facing long-term housing struggles. Many have grown up without the support or guidance needed to navigate the challenges of young adulthood. Whatever their story, youth homelessness doesn’t always look like you expect — it’s often hidden, unfolding in cars, on couches, or in quiet corners of our communities.
It’s time to look closer.
Move past the myths and understand what young people impacted by homelessness are going through. Help us build a future where support, stability, and hope are within reach.
What We Do
When young people walk through our doors, they’re met with warmth, respect, and a community that accepts them exactly as they are — with no conditions.
Provides young people with the essentials for day-to-day survival — food, clothing, showers, and access to a phone, internet, and a safe place to rest.
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Helps young people explore who they are, build new skills, and express themselves, while also providing support with education, employment, and access to vital resources.
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Connects young people with immediate shelter, longer-term housing solutions, and holistic health and wellness support.
Learn MoreGet Involved
By volunteering — on your own or with a team — you can make a difference in the lives of young people impacted by homelessness. Whether it’s running a workshop, assisting with events, supporting young people and their animal companions, or hosting a drive, volunteering your time makes a difference.
Volunteer
Give young people the everyday essentials that they need — from backpacks and parenting supplies to dog food, lip balm, and travel-size toiletries. Every item purchased helps to meet the immediate needs of young people with care and dignity.
See Wish List
Young people in our community are requesting masculine clothing including pants, t-shirts, belts, shoes, hoodies, and sweatshirts. You can make an appointment to drop off clothing at My Friend's Place or you can purchase directly via our Amazon Youth Wishlist.
See Wish ListSchedule a Drop-Off
When a young person moves into housing, you or your group can help turn their new space into a true home by fulfilling a personalized wish list of essentials. You do the shopping and we’ll make sure it’s delivered when the young person moves in. Contact us to learn more.
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The art, clothing, accessories, and homewares sold through The Corner Collective are made by the young people of My Friend's Place in onsite creative workshops. The young artists receive 100% of sales. Contact us if you have a space to host a Corner Collective Pop-Up.
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Work with your community to collect items for young people impacted by homelessness. The need is great for: Art Supplies, Backpacks, Blankets and Sleeping Bags, Masculine and Unisex Clothing, Hygiene and Toiletry Supplies, Shoes, Snacks, and Tents. Items must be delivered to My Friend’s Place by appointment. Contact us for more information.
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Your time matters more than you know. Partner with staff to help young people access food, clothing, and other programming during a weekly shift Monday - Friday. A background check, training, and a commitment of at least six months is required.
Volunteer
Help create moments of joy and connection by volunteering at one of our monthly birthday celebrations. Serving pizza and cake might seem small, but it creates powerful moments of belonging and reminds young people they matter. No training or background check are required.
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Share the comfort of a nourishing meal. Whether you fund a breakfast or lunch or volunteer to serve it, your generosity offers nurturing warmth, care, and connection to young people.
Contact UsStories fromÂ
Our Community
Events
Gather your team of friends, family or coworkers and join us on Sunday, October 12th for Friend Fest, an afternoon of fun, friendly competition and community. Create a team, fundraise and compete in games, or cheer from the sidelines - everyone's a winner when we are raising funds together to support vital care for young people impacted by homelessness.
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This holiday season, you can make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people at My Friend’s Place. Join us by supporting our Holiday Event, hosting a drive to collect essential items, or contributing to holiday meals that bring warmth and connection to our community. Together, we can ensure every young person feels celebrated and cared for.
Young people come to MFP through the seasons. During the wintertime, young people come in and they’re sad. It's cold and lonely and they are coming to an unfamiliar place to access resources. Then they find out that we offer so much more than just resources– MFP hosts holiday parties and special meals. The young people come in and they start to feel welcome and start building relationships with others here. They learn about all the different programs like employment, education, and art programs. The young people begin to flourish. Watching them move from uncertainty and loneliness and seeking community, to becoming part of the community and then finding out they can better their life at MFP and it’s not pushed on them. That’s how I see the young people grow and transform here."
Insights
Discover our latest thinking, research, and data on addressing and ending youth homelessness.
At My Friend’s Place, we know that belonging is at the heart of healing. When young people experiencing homelessness feel safe, accepted, and part of a community, they can begin to imagine—and build—a brighter future. To better understand how we’re fostering belonging, our Data & Impact team conducted surveys with young people at My Friend’s Place from January 8–12, 2024.
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Drop-in centers are safe havens for youth experiencing homelessness. We examine drop-in centers within a positive youth development (PYD) framework to explore the role social connections with staff on the psychosocial development and stability of youth experiencing homelessness.
