Ongoing Financial Support During Life Transitions
The Upward Fund provides monthly assistance to people transitioning into permanent housing.
When Working Full Time Doesn’t Cut It
In Los Angeles, a person who earns $22 per hour working 40 hours per week still has a difficult time paying their monthly expenses. When a person is experiencing a life transition, they are now responsible for paying bills such as rent, food, insurance, gas, and utilities. The Upward Fund assistance provides a bridge to these hardworking individuals so they can succeed in their life’s goals.
Each Upward Fund participant receives $425 a month for one year. Participants must be at least 18 years old, working at least 30 hours a week, demonstrating a plan for self-sufficiency, and earning too much to be eligible for state and federal benefits but not enough to cover basic expenses in Los Angeles.
All participants are referred by staff at our partner organizations — nonprofits, hospitals, schools, and faith-based groups — people who interact with working Angelenos every day. Referrals come from 25 of our partner organizations, including Homeboy Industries, Ready to Succeed, Door of Hope, LA Family Housing, and Mass Liberation.
“At the beginning of the year I was barely reaching my supervisor's expectations since I was still missing one of the requirements for my position so I was already under a lot of pressure, unfortunately to be able to obtain this skill I needed money that I didn't have. With the support of the upward fund, I was able to obtain my driver's license, I spent $1,500 towards this goal and was able to not only obtain a substantial raise at my work, but I was also awarded with the team player for the last quarter for my company. I was also able to buy my first car at 24 years old and opened my first credit line. So far in my entire life I have never felt safer than today.”