Cedars-Sinai is contributing $15 million in grants to community organizations, with more than 20 grants going to groups that work on homeless and housing stability issues. (photo by Edwin Folven)

Cedars-Sinai is significantly increasing its financial support for safety-net organizations that serve people experiencing homelessness and others who are vulnerable in Los Angeles County.

The institution is contributing $15 million to 108 nonprofit programs and organizations that foster housing stability, provide sustainable programs for homeless residents and build clinical and financial capacity at community clinics. The grants, announced this month, also will support mental health training, services for LGBTQ+ and veterans’ groups, as well as a range of social services provided by several Jewish organizations.

Cedars-Sinai contributed $5.9 million last year to safety-net organizations in the Los Angeles region.

The effort to address homelessness and housing stability comes at a critical time for the region. The 2019 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count found a 12% increase in homelessness across the county compared to a year ago, pushing the numbers of homeless residents in the area to nearly 59,000. The count also showed that 600,000 people countywide face critical housing stability issues because they spend a large percentage of their income on shelter.

“We take our role in the community as seriously as we take patient care, research and education,” said Cedars-Sinai President and CEO Thomas M. Priselac. “We are driven by a strategic focus on improving access to care and addressing social determinants of health. Ultimately, we are working to break down barriers that affect tens of thousands of people within the safety net.”

More than 20 of the Cedars-Sinai grants are going to organizations that work directly with people experiencing homelessness or strive to improve housing stability. In total, Cedars-Sinai is contributing $2.5 million to these dual priorities.

The recipients include the City of Santa Monica, which is receiving $100,000 for a feasibility study about comprehensive healthcare for homeless residents in the seaside city; and the Los Angeles LGBT Center, which will have $160,000 to develop vocational training for youth who are transitioning out of homelessness.

Cedars-Sinai also is distributing several major grants to assist community clinics to reduce disparities in health and healthcare. More than 1.6 million Angelenos receive their healthcare from community clinics, making these organizations the backbone of the region’s safety net. The Cedars-Sinai Community Clinic Initiative is contributing $1.5 million over two years to help 17 Los Angeles County community clinics build greater capacity to address food insecurity and transportation issues for those who need the support.

Cedars-Sinai is located at 8700 Beverly Blvd. For information, visit cedars-sinai.org.