August 2026 SPY Report
Hi friends,
This month at SPY, home is at the heart of everything we do. In this newsletter you’ll find:
Ways to support our new housing site
Exciting youth successes
Youth leadership in advocacy
A letter directly from our youth
Building Hope at Home 💙
A safe home can’t wait. For a young person experiencing homelessness, safe, trusted housing programs provide our youth with a safe space to build lasting stability.
At SPY housing sites, youth are surrounded by caring staff equipped to guide them through their goals whether that be through daily guidance, education and employment support, or the search for permanent housing.
Today, SPY provides more than 200 housing opportunities across multiple sites for young people experiencing homelessness. This year, SPY is expanding once more, opening a new housing site near MacArthur Park. This space will provide 49 additional beds, giving more young people the opportunity to find peace and a place to begin again.
A bed can change the course of a young person's life, but too many are still waiting for that opportunity. Your gift today helps maintain and grow SPY’s housing programs and the holistic support that allows young people to break the cycle of homelessness.
NAEH Conference 📣
Our team had the pleasure of attending the National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference in DC to advocate for young people experiencing homelessness.
We’re immensely proud of Youth Advocate Joseline for sharing her story: explaining how a housing voucher gave her the stability to move into permanent housing, care for her children, and finally focus on school and work instead of wondering where she’d sleep each night. She also spoke to the power of access centers and supportive services like SPY.
“It’s critical that we bring young people into spaces like this. It allows them to see what’s possible for themselves and forces decision-makers to hear directly from people most affected by policy change.” - Noelle Stanfield, Chief Program Officer at SPY
A Pathway Home 🏠 JULY
8 SPY youth exited to permanent housing in June!
When Kristen first connected with SPY’s case management team, she was struggling to find stability due to employment and housing instability. With SPY’s help, Kristin received support with budgeting, rental applications and assistance, and emergency housing. Through her hard work and determination in partnership with SPY’s housing team, she managed to learn detailed budgeting skills, secure a job, and find a place to call her own.
Congratulations, Kristen!
Told From The Heart 💭 Heaven’s Story
On one October morning in 2025, I decided it was time to make a change.
I was struggling with depression, overwhelmed by poverty and unemployment, and I found it hard to get out of bed each day. I told myself I would start small, so I sat on the porch of the shelter where I was staying and did my hair in the sunshine. It was a small act of care for myself but it led to a conversation that changed the trajectory of my life.
A young man sat beside me and introduced himself. He told me about SPY, and a few days later, I was there completing my intake to become a member.
Since then, SPY has given me access to the things I need like meals, clothing, and hygiene products. But more importantly, SPY gave me a strong foundation of community to build upon. Now every Wednesday I can ground myself with a yoga workshop, express myself through creative healing arts sessions, and attend my therapy appointments.
SPY provided me with a community when I needed it most. I’m surrounded by people who’re overcoming the same challenges as me and people who I can relate to without judgement.