Happy Holidays from all of us at Ascencia!

Season's Greetings!

As we embrace this holiday season, we at Ascencia want to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you. This past year, your remarkable contributions have enabled us to offer shelter, support, and a renewed sense of hope to countless individuals and families. We have served 1,440 individuals, welcomed 193 households into homes, provided 1,015 hours of mental health care, opened one new interim housing program, two new permanent housing programs, and so much more.

Together, we have made considerable progress, yet the need persists. Tens of thousands of people remain unhoused, struggling in despair and feeling invisible. Many have lost sight of a way out of their dire situations and urgently require assistance from agencies like Ascencia. As we look toward the new year, our commitment to our mission of alleviating homelessness remains unwavering, even amidst funding challenges.

Your continued support is crucial to our efforts. As we approach the end of the year, we invite you to strengthen our efforts by making a donation, whether it's a financial contribution or a thoughtful holiday gift for our clients.

We are endeavoring to raise $75,000 for our programs, and you can contribute here: Holiday Giving.

Our Adopt-A-Family program is also underway, and there just 9 families and individuals in need of holiday gifts. Sign up here: Adopt-A-Family 2025.

From all of us at Ascencia, we wish you and your loved ones a joyous and peaceful holiday season, filled with warmth, love, and happiness.

Best Wishes and Happy Holidays,

Chris's Life is Back on Track Thanks to Ascencia

In July 2025, Chris arrived at our shelter shortly after being discharged from USC Arcadia Hospital. One day while he had been enjoying a movie in Pasadena, he became unexpectedly ill and ended up hospitalized. For six months prior, Chris had been living out of his vehicle after being evicted for not being able to afford rent.

From the moment he arrived, Chris expressed a strong desire for stable housing. Hospital Case Manager Melisa quickly secured interim housing and arranged a primary care appointment, setting Chris on a recovery path.

Melisa facilitated unit viewings, connected him with an occupational therapist, and organized therapy sessions. As his health improved, Chris focused on housing and employment. He shared, “When I lost my job after being hospitalized, Melisa immediately stepped in, made sure my social security benefits continued, and helped me secure three job opportunities."

Melisa researched affordable housing options for Chris and supported his application process. Within a few weeks, Chris was approved for an apartment and moved in the following week. We are so glad to have been able to help Chris regain stability and rebuild his life!

Shoutout to Assistance League of Glendale for providing Chris and all of our newly housed clients with welcome home baskets full of move-in essentials!

We share common ground: the desire to save as many lives as possible from the ravages of homelessness. Currently, over 72,308 people across Los Angeles County are homeless. At Ascencia, we are committed to lifting many more individuals and families out of this crisis!

Help us raise $75,000 by the end of the year: give.ascencia.org.

Your gift today will be MATCHED up $30,000 thanks to two generous donors: David L. Ho, Jr. and Bruce & Debbie Hinckley.

With seven unhoused individuals losing their lives every day in LA County, we want to thank you for supporting our efforts to save many more lives!

Give the Gift of Hope

There are 190 Ascencia families and individuals who have shared their holiday wish list with us, and 9 families and individuals are still available and waiting to be adopted!

While most of us look forward to this time of year, it can be very challenging for our Ascencia families who have had a tough year. Together, we can spread holiday cheer this season!

Please sign up now to ensure all of our families get adopted this year.

If you have any questions, please contact Makena Goodwin at MGoodwin@AscenciaCA.org or (818) 246-7900 ext. 113.

Adopt-A-Family Signup

Join us for our Annual Homeless Persons' Memorial Service on Friday, December 19.

National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day takes place each year on the longest night of the year, the winter solstice. Every year, on or around this night, Ascencia holds a service to commemorate the lives of the homeless members of our community who died that year.

Please join us for our 2025 Homeless Persons' Memorial Service on Friday, December 19th at 5:00PM. The service this year will take place at Wee Kirk O’ The Heather at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA. This event is open to the public.

We will also be collecting cold weather donations of gently used or new jackets, and new gloves, hats, and blankets at the event. We hope to see you there.