Dear Ascencia,

As summer arrives, bringing both warmth and challenges, we are grateful for your compassion for those experiencing homelessness. Excessive heat can lead to serious health issues like dehydration and heatstroke for those without shelter.

Our street outreach teams in Glendale, East Hollywood, and West Hollywood are boots on the ground, no matter the weather, handing out water, food, and any cooling supplies we have to help people on the streets, and offering resources and enrollment into our programs with the goal of moving them into permanent housing.

We have a new way for you to help our mission this summer: The Supper Club! Our incredible guest chef volunteers cover about half the meals we serve in our shelter, and the remaining are provided by Ascencia. The high cost of food makes it increasingly difficult to cover the cost of meals we serve. This is why we need your help. Join the Supper Club to help fund breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for our shelter residents: Give.classy.org/AscenciaSupperClub.

June is also Pride Month, when we take time to recognize the power of authenticity, the resilience of those who continue to show up as themselves, and the importance of creating environments where everyone can thrive. Our programs continue to serve all individuals with the same commitment, respect, and care—this month and every month since 2006.

Whether through volunteering, donations, or spreading the word, every act of kindness extends our reach and impact. Thank you for your kindness and commitment. Together, we continue to create positive change in our community.

Robert is Home After 14 Years!

It is truly a tragedy that there are people who must live in their vehicles to stay safe, warm and avoid the dangers of the streets.

So many adults and children are trapped in a complex system that so few know how to navigate despite their best efforts to find a way back home.

This was the case for Robert, and as a result, he had been experiencing homelessness for the past 14 years, living in his car in Glendale.

The City of Glendale is home to incredible nonprofits, one of which is our partner, The Armenian Relief Society (ARS). Our friends at ARS in Glendale referred Robert to Ascencia.

Robert began working with his Case Manager, Monique Briones, who provided personalized care and helped him meet the requirements for permanent supportive housing. Thankfully, Robert was employed and managed to stay employed while experiencing homelessness. He started to save his income, and with the help of Ascencia, after just one month staying in our shelter, he moved into his own apartment.

Robert shared: "I am so grateful for the opportunity to have my own home, and I'd like to thank the staff for being patient with me. Ascencia changed my life and was worth the wait."

Ascencia serves some of the most challenging cases of homelessness annually. We are proud to share that while the odds may have been against Robert, he was able to defy them with the help of Ascencia and our hard-working staff.

Your continued investment of your time, talents, and treasure results in so many lives being saved.

We are introducing The Supper Club—a new opportunity for Ascencia supporters to sustain our efforts to serve our community! Most of us can recall that wonderful memory of being asked to wash up because supper was ready. At Ascencia, one of the best daily activities is letting our clients know that breakfast, lunch, or dinner is ready.

You’re probably wondering why a new club? Since 2020, the price of food has surged by approximately 23.6%. Despite this, Ascencia remains committed to serving 50,000 meals annually to our shelter residents.

While our guest chef volunteers generously cover about half of these meals, all other meals are covered from our general operating budget. This is where we need your help with these exorbitant costs.

Join The Supper Club this summer and help us raise $50,000 to fund three months worth of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for our residents!

Each meal provided offers more than just sustenance; it offers a sense of comfort, compassion, and hope to those who need it most. Learn more via the button below.

The Supper Club

Host a Donation Drive for Ascencia

We are running low on some of our supplies in our donation closet and our food pantry! To help us restock for our clients, we are calling on you to host a donation drive among your friends, family, coworkers, or classmates to collect items we need. You can also purchase items yourself and drop-off or ship to Ascencia.

Below are some items that we are currently low on...

Hygiene Products

Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash
Toothpaste and floss
Sunscreen
Body wipes
Assembled hygiene kits

Food Pantry Items

Canned meats and proteins
Canned beans
Canned veggies
Dry goods (rice, pasta)
Breakfast items (cereal, oatmeal, bread)
Individually wrapped snacks (chips, granola bars)

NEW Clothing/shoes

Unisex sweatpants (sizes M-2XL)
Sandals / flip flops
Women's undergarments

To schedule your donation drop-off, please email Volunteer@AscenciaCA.org or call 818-246-7900. Thank you so much!

Shoutout to volunteers from St. Francis who recently dropped off food pantry and hygiene product donations from their donation drive.

19 Years of Ascencia!

On June 15, 2025, Ascencia will proudly celebrate its 19th anniversary! We are truly honored to serve our community and work towards ending homelessness—one life at a time. We deeply appreciate the support you have shown us throughout the years.

Since our inception in 2006, we have been dedicated to lifting individuals out of homelessness within the communities we serve. As we celebrate this milestone, we look back on the countless stories of transformation that have been made possible through your unwavering support and dedication.

In just the past six years, Ascencia has successfully provided permanent housing for 745 individuals and families. Every single person we help is significant. Just last month, we welcomed a gentleman who had been experiencing homelessness for 28 years into a new home. Thank you for standing with us in our mission.

As we look to the future, we remain committed to expanding our reach and deepening our impact. Our vision is a community where everyone has a safe and stable place to call home. With your continued support, we are confident that we can make this vision a reality, one life at a time.

Here's to many more years of hope, healing, and transformation.

Thank you,

The Ascencia Team