People Helping People: A Quest for Hope

Harrison Soberanis dedicated more than 21 years of his life to his organization, but the organization he devoted himself to for so long might soon disappear right before his eyes.

People Helping People, founded by Soberanis with the help of his wife and just a handful of volunteers, is a non-profit economic development corporation focused on providing the poor, the hungry, and the unemployed community of South Central Los Angeles with hot meals, a roof over their heads, and a way for them to get back on their feet.

The inspiration for founding such a selfless organization, said Soberanis, came from the news; ABC7 News was broadcasting a report illustrating the poverty of Skid Row in downtown L.A. “At that time there were thousands of homeless men and women laying on the streets like cats, like dogs, like rats,” said Soberanis. “When I saw that, it broke my heart, and God spoke to me and told me that I need to help those people in whatever way I can.”

Clients were expected to pay about $150 - $200 per person, for a stay of up to three months. Many of them were able to pay this fee through their entitlement funds received form the county or through Supplemental Security, while others held jobs. People Helping People also gave out about 390-400 motel vouchers to families in need, allowing them to find shelter in several motels and hotels in the area, and set up a weekly food bank during which 75 bags of groceries were distributed.

But on June 30, 2011, the city of Los Angeles officially cut all funding given to the organization. For the Winter Shelter program, the city imposed additional restrictions that required the organization to find a building large enough to house 250 people prior to receiving any funding. This meant that People Helping People had to pay three months of rent, from September until the November, only relying on client fees. Soberanis deemed this to be impossible, so he didn’t attempt to apply for funding.

He did, however, apply for funding for the Year-Round Shelter Program, which he had received for eight consecutive years. The city denied their application, claiming the organization had not met certain required performance standards. The contract People Helping People had signed the previous year demanded that the organization placed 60 percent of its clients in permanent housing. For the first time in eight years, the organization didn’t meet this standard.

According to Soberanis, about 2000 homeless men and women found shelter at People Helping People each year, but a high percentage of them only stayed for one or two nights.

“How can we provide case management services and find permanent housing for clients who are here for only a couple of days?” said Soberanis. Despite the strong appeals by Soberanis and the organization, the city did not reverse its decision.

The tables quickly turned for the organization: Soberanis had to dramatically cut its staff for both the Winter Shelter Program and the Year-Round Shelter Program. While originally there were 70 staff members for the former program and 35 for the latter, now there are no paid staff members. There is only room for 22 homeless people every night, and client fees are used to strictly pay for rent, food and utilities. Although the shelter hasn’t stopped its weekly food banks, it will soon have to. In January of 2012, People Helping People will have to indefinitely close its doors to the very same community it has been welcoming with open arms for the past 21 years.

Soberanis might be able to find another way to finance People Helping People, but if he’s not, his efforts to helping the underprivileged do not end here, he said. And despite the unfortunate circumstances, Soberanis keeps a constant smile on his face. “Even with not having the same funding, there is not a dull moment of my life, I’m always excited,” he said. “Like last night, I went to play basketball with young guys, 19 and 20 years old, and here I am this morning back to work, feeling good, a little stiff, but…”