Project Y!MBY (Yes! In My Back Yard) Kicks Off

At the PATH Hollywood Center grand opening last week, Los Angeles Councilmember Eric Garcetti kicked off PATH’s local homeless initiative—Project Y!MBY. This new initiative will be based in the greater Hollywood area. The goal is to mobilize existing homeless resources and local stakeholders to help its homeless population access housing.

Councilmember Garcetti, flanked by West Hollywood Mayor Abbe Land, Assemblyperson Paul Koretz, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce CEO Leron Gubler, Hollywood Entertainment District CEO Kerry Morrison, and numerous other local leaders, challenged the audience to join this local homeless initiative.

“We must say YES! Yes, there is a problem of homelessness in our community. Yes, we want to solve this crisis. Yes, we want to use existing resources and services. Yes, we care about people with no homes. Yes, the solutions are in our backyard. And yes, we can do it!” challenged Garcetti.

The new 65-bed Hollywood Interim Housing center opened its doors three months ago, and has helped 100 people off the streets of Hollywood. Along with a full-time street outreach team, and the PATH Mall (20 public and private agencies under one roof), this Interim Housing Center will be the center of ending homelessness in Hollywood.

Another Project Y!MBY activity—Project Y!MBY Connect Day—will challenge local volunteers to help connect homeless people into services and housing. This day will be on December 8th, and will be in conjunction with the National Project Homeless Connect Day.