Artist Credit: Favianna Rodriguez: Sustenance

A Mother's Hope

"Lucy" (not her real name), a 23-year-old mother of three on her way to finally earning her diploma at YouthBuild Charter School of California, was running out of options. She and her husband were struggling to pay the bills and, with a fourth baby on the way, they had just received an eviction notice. Lucy confessed her fears to her academic counselor who shared a message of hope: generous donors, through our Building Hope Crisis Fund, are supporting students who are navigating significant threats to their well-being. This gap funding helps students stay afloat until sustainable resources become available to them.

Just three days later, through BHCF, Lucy and her family got the financial assistance they needed to avoid living on the streets. Lucy said she and her husband can now raise the rest of their back rent on their own.

Lucy says, "I'm so thankful for the funding I have received because it has allowed me and my family to stay in our home with our three kids when we were on the verge of eviction. This has also allowed me to continue going to school and has taken a mental load off. Thank you."

The Need

Thus far, YCSC has raised nearly $10,000 through individual gifts that have been applied to the Building Hope Crisis Fund. And, since the fund was established in December 2024, over $7,000 in donations have been applied to averting homelessness, food insecurity, and other crisis situations our students have faced while trying to stay in school. Your donations have also supported several students whose family members have been unable to go to work or shop for groceries due to the ICE raids.

The need has increased substantially since school began in August. While we had some requests when the fund began late last year, we've had eight new ones since students returned to campus.

With support needs averaging between $500-1,000 each, YCSC is at a critical point of not being to help when the next counselor or teacher identifies a desperate need.

Won't you give to the Building Hope Crisis Fund today?

DONATE TODAY!

Amazon Wish List

We have compiled items that students need most often during a crisis into an Amazon Wish List. Your gifts will be sent to our school headquarters where they will be picked up by students or delivered to them by our staff.

WISH LIST

Increasing Numbers of Young Families are Living on the Streets of Los Angeles

As Lucy and her husband recently experienced, rent hikes in Los Angeles, combined with the rising costs of groceries, gas and other expenses, are sending young families spiraling down into homelessness. According to an August 2025 LAist article, Homelessness is Down in LA County, But Not for Young Families, "A recent survey found that 70% of families with children under 6 struggle to meet a basic need like housing or food."

YCSC is committed to not allowing our young people to end up on LA's streets. Won't you join us in building hope so that a crisis doesn't become a permanent way of life?

DONATE TODAY!

For more information, please contact Cathy Brandt, development director at ctrout@youthbuildcharter.org.

Build hope with your family and friends!

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YouthBuild Charter School of California's mission is to cultivate collaborative learning communities in which every student has the right to an authentic education, plays a meaningful role in creating positive social change, and becomes an active participant in working towards just conditions for all.

YouthBuild Charter School of California | 611 Wilshire Blvd. Ste. 303 | Los Angeles, CA 90017 US

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