Dear Ascencia,

We would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude, as your generosity and kindness have played a crucial role in helping individuals and families escape homelessness. I am proud to share that in the past year, Ascencia has served 1,205 individuals, enrolling 369 people directly from the streets, and has placed 169 households into permanent supportive housing! Thanks to your generous support, we are solving homelessness—one life at a time! We are sincerely thankful for your dedication and compassion.

As we approach the colder months and the holiday season, let us keep in mind those who need our continued help. The end of the year can be especially tough for those experiencing homelessness, as they endure longer nights and painful reminders of their hardships and losses. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to support Ascencia and bring a bit of joy to those transitioning out of homelessness this holiday season!

Ascencia, being a non-profit, faces a constant funding gap that at times threatens to weaken our efforts. Without immediate and ongoing help, we struggle to keep up with the demand for our Mental Health & Wellness Programs. These programs are essential for our clients to overcome obstacles to housing, heal from trauma, and reintegrate into society. We urge you to support our Mental Illness Awareness Week Campaign ending this Saturday. Learn more and give at give.classy.org/MIAW.

Next month, we will also be launching our annual Adopt-A-Family program, where you can make the season brighter for a family in need by donating gifts from their holiday wish lists! We work diligently to ensure that they are not left feeling isolated or forgotten during the holidays or any time of year. Thank you in advance for your support in the coming months.

With Gratitude,

Dr. Laura Duncan

Executive Director

Shanda is HOME thanks to mental health care, case management, and individualized services provided by Ascencia!

Shanda came to Ascencia as a referral from Martin Luther King Hospital. She was dealing with severe anxiety and chest pain due to the stress after being evicted from her former partner's apartment. For the next several months, she experienced homelessness before ending up in the hospital. Shanda had no one to turn to, no friends or family. However, after she was came to Ascencia, she had her case manager who began working closely with her to improve her life.

Ascencia’s wrap around care addresses both the physical and emotional needs of our clients brought on by the traumas experienced while living on the streets.

Shanda stayed in our emergency shelter for one month while she worked to increase her income. Having the stability of a bed, showers, laundry, and prepared meals helped Shanda get back on her feet. Shanda joined Occupational Therapy sessions to help her find stability through learning about health and finances, as well as experiencing joy again through games and activities with other clients. She also took part in Trauma Therapy sessions, which helped her work through her anxiety. Through these programs, Shanda reached her goal of being permanently housed in under 30 days!

Shanda with her Case Manager, Monique, holding her Welcome Home Basket donated by the Assistance League of Glendale.

Shanda shared, “Thank you to the wellness team and case managers for making the shelter feel like home. Thank you to the donors for funding this incredible place”

The impact of our services is transformative, Shanda is living proof. Thank you so much for your support.

SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

ADOPT-A-FAMILY 2024 IS COMING!

We know it's not even Halloween, but the Holiday shopping is just around the corner!! On November 4th, we will be launching our Adopt-A-Family program.

Adopt-A-Family is a program we run that allows our supporters to "Adopt" a family or individual who has experienced or is experiencing homelessness. You will select a family (or multiple families), and we will send you a wish list of items they would like to receive for the holidays, ranging from $25-$50. You will shop, wrap, and deliver these gifts to Ascencia, and our case managers will deliver your presents to the clients you adopted!

This is an impactful way for you to bring spread joy to people who need it the most this holiday season. Last year, over 170 families and individuals were adopted and given beautifully wrapped gifts from our incredible community of supporters.

Mark your calendars now for 11/4/24 to sign up to be a Holiday Helper and make the season brighter for our clients! You will receive an email with more information once we are ready to accept signups. Thank you in advance!

Reynolds Family and Friends

Thank you to the three generations of Reynolds family women, Diana, Pamela, and Abby Reynolds, for their donation of 42 snack bags!

7th grader Abby Reynolds brought together a few friends from Louis Armstrong Middle School in Sherman Oaks, and with the help of her mom Pamela, they purchased supplies and assembled snack bags for Ascencia—responding to our urgent call for help. Abby's grandmother Diana, a longtime supporter of Ascencia, came to drop off the supplies, which will be used by our Street Outreach teams. Thank you so much for this incredible show of support!