Hilton Foundation Awards $875,000 to Address Homelessness in Los Angeles and Fund Research to Improve Lives of Foster Care Youth

Due to the current economic crisis, an increasing number of individuals and families are at risk of being homeless and are struggling to meet basic needs. In Los Angeles County, unemployment is at 10.5%, the number of people on food stamps has increased greatly and calls to the government hotline for social services increased by 20,000 each month during this winter. United Way of Greater Los Angeles will distribute funds from the Hilton grant to more than 30 organizations that are providing emergency services throughout the County to help prevent people from falling into homelessness. Funds will be used to provide motel vouchers, rent subsidies, meals, groceries and emergency and transitional shelter beds can be made available.

University of Pennsylvania Professor of Social Policy Dennis Culhane is an internationally-recognized researcher whose studies in homelessness have had wide policy impact at both local and federal levels. Partnering with the County of Los Angeles, Dr. Culhane will investigate how youth who have exited foster care have fared as adults. Such outcomes as employment earnings, public assistance, homelessness, public health services, justice system involvement, and dependent care of their own children will be explored. The conclusions will prove invaluable in determining the efficacy and cost effectiveness of current programs and what interventions might be provided to help youth successfully transition out of the foster care system.

Based in Los Angeles, the Hilton Foundation was created in 1944 by the late hotel entrepreneur and business leader, Conrad N. Hilton, who left his fortune to the foundation when he died in 1979 with instructions to help the most disadvantaged and vulnerable throughout the world without regard to religion, ethnicity or geography. Barron Hilton, who also led Hilton Hotels Corporation and is current chairman of the foundation, has joined his father in committing to leave the bulk of his wealth to the foundation. Since its inception, the foundation, along with its related entities, has committed more than $800 million for charitable projects throughout the world.