LOS ANGELES, CA – Santa Monica College (SMC) has introduced a groundbreaking program to train students for careers in homeless services, aiming to address a critical shortage of workers in Los Angeles County. The program, believed to be the first of its kind in California, has drawn strong interest, with 70 applicants vying for just 20 spots in its inaugural one-year course.
The program offers students a certificate degree and practical training in providing assistance to the homeless, with the goal of filling more than 1,000 open positions in roles such as case management and fieldwork. These jobs are essential to implementing measures like Proposition HHH, Measure H, and recently passed Measure A, which have increased funding for housing and services but left a gap in staffing capacity.
“I thought it was amazing that something like this was being offered,” said student Tai Harris.
Leepi Shimkhada, one of the program’s instructors, highlighted the diverse backgrounds of the students, many of whom have personal connections to homelessness.
“I’ve got one student who drives a bus through Skid Row every day, and she wants to try to help,” Shimkhada said. “A lot of folks in the class have either experienced homelessness themselves or have family members who’ve experienced it.”
In addition to classroom learning, students participate in a fieldwork course, gaining hands-on experience with local organizations and working on the front lines.
William Johnson, another student, emphasized the importance of the program. “There’s so much impactful information the outside world is not learning. I’m here to serve and give back as much as I can,” he said.
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) is funding the program and providing full scholarships to students, enabling them to focus fully on their studies and training.
SMC’s Associate Dean of Career Education, Steven Sedky, said the program has the potential to expand to other community colleges in Southern California. “The next phase is to spread this initiative to more colleges, with the ultimate dream of scaling it statewide,” Sedky said.
Shimkhada expressed optimism about the program’s future and its participants’ dedication. “They come from very different places in life, but we all see what’s happening on our streets,” she said.
The program is seen as a significant step toward addressing the homelessness crisis by equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to create tangible change.
