United Way of Greater Los Angeles, founded in 1924, focuses on ending homelessness and building economic mobility across the L.A. region through initiatives like Home For Good and the Everyone In campaign. Here is what it does, how to get help, and how to give.
Unlike affiliates that spread evenly across many causes, United Way of Greater Los Angeles concentrates on homelessness and economic mobility. It funds and convenes partners, runs advocacy campaigns, and supports programs that move people into stable housing and toward financial security.
Its programs reach five regions of Greater Los Angeles: Antelope Valley, Harbor/Southeast, Los Angeles, San Fernando, and San Gabriel. Elise Buik serves as president and CEO.
Residents looking for services can call 2-1-1 to reach food, housing, and other resources across the county. The affiliate's own work centers on getting people into permanent housing and keeping them there.
| Program | What it does |
|---|---|
| Home For Good | A multi-sector partnership advancing what works: permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness. |
| Everyone In | An advocacy campaign building public support for the housing and services needed to end homelessness. |
| Economic mobility | Programs supporting students, young adults, and families on the path to financial stability. |
| ALICE research | Data on working households that cannot afford the basics in a high-cost region. |
Because Los Angeles County has one of the largest homeless populations in the country, the affiliate's emphasis is on systemic solutions rather than only emergency aid.
United Way uses the ALICE framework, Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, to describe households that earn above the poverty line but cannot afford the basics. In a region with some of the nation's highest housing costs, ALICE data underlines why so many working families remain on the edge.
The term ALICE was first coined in 2012 by a United Way in New Jersey and is now used by United Ways across the country, including in Los Angeles.
You can donate directly, give through a workplace campaign, or designate a gift toward housing and economic-mobility work. Donations support the affiliate's initiatives and its partners.
Volunteers and advocates can join campaigns like Everyone In. United Way of Greater Los Angeles holds a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, and its EIN for tax-deductible gifts is 95-2274801.
A partnership advancing permanent housing solutions.
An advocacy campaign to build support for ending homelessness.
Support for students, young adults, and families.
Data on working households that cannot afford basics.
Connecting residents to county services.
Payroll campaigns that fund the affiliate's work.
Sources: United Way of Greater Los Angeles (unitedwayla.org), Home For Good, and Everyone In; Charity Navigator and GuideStar (EIN 95-2274801). Retrieved June 2026. We are not affiliated with United Way of Greater Los Angeles and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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