On Feb. 6, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the creation of LA: EnterpRISE, a pilot program to drive entrepreneurship opportunities for Angelenos experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness. 

“Every Angeleno should have a chance to nurture their talents, pursue their dreams and earn an income,” Garcetti said. “The goal of LA: EnterpRISE is to empower people in need – to give them the support, training and encouragement they need to start a new chapter.”

LA: EnterpRISE is a public-private partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, the Downtown Women’s Center, Target, the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles and PACE Work­Source/BusinessSource Centers. It will work with service providers and nonprofits to identify Angelenos experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness who are seeking to launch their own businesses and provide them with thorough entrepreneurship training.

In its first year, LA: EnterpRISE aims to provide 200 Angelenos with a path to financial stability through self-employment and lead participants to startup funding options. Participants will receive career and business training through workshops facilitated by the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. Upon completion, participants will be referred to one of the city’s WorkSource Centers or Business­Source Centers.

In addition to direct training, LA: EnterpRISE will expand its long-term training capacity with a yearlong train-the-trainer program facilitated by FreeFrom, a gender-based violence survivor advocacy organization. 

A 2017 pilot program by FreeFrom resulted in 24 new business starts – 100% of which turned a profit within the first month.

With profits ranging from $200-$3,000 monthly, 33% of the founders transitioned from shelters into secure housing, based on income generated from new businesses.