What bloomed this April?

This April, National Health Foundation welcomed the season of spring, with winds blowing us forward and blooms reminding us why we work. This month, NHF saw an impact in the key target areas of Home, Health, and Hope. April saw many housing opportunities blossom in unexpected ways, leading to a month filled with increases in health wellness and hope for our community members. National Health Foundation saw the beginning of spring as exactly what it is meant to be, a season of fresh energy and reaching new heights.

This month join us as we explore how NHF's street medicine partnership is changing the game, with up-close and personal encounters, and just how much patients value the services NHF offers. Growth doesn’t just happen, and here at NHF, the ‘caretaking’ and maintaining of our sites is overseen by our fabulous Facilities Team. Join us as we follow their day-to-day and learn a little more about the people that make our work possible every day.

We invite you to read this newsletter thinking about the way you can impact the lives of those in your community. Join us as we examine the immense impact one moment of connection can have for someone in need.

As always, we welcome feedback and are excited to hear your thoughts about this latest edition of NHF's newsletter.

Sincerely,

National Health Foundation

Month in Numbers

Community Initiatives

Community Members Engaged through Events (including Food Distributions)

Recuperative Care

Guests Connected to Stable Housing

Pounds of FREE Food Donated

Recuperative Care Guests Served

Recuperative Care

Guest Spotlight

Donald’s Success Story:

Say Hello to Donald, a former guest of NHF’s rapid re-housing program in Ventura. Donald was able to connect with an Enhanced Care Management team who helped Donald address ongoing health concerns, including encouraging him to begin physical therapy. With the proper support to improve and maintain his health, combined with Donald’s diligence, Donald was able to secure housing of his own. To provide additional support, Donald was shown how to maintain a clean and organized living environment by NHF staff. Working hard to build his house into a home and increase his savings to ensure consistently paying his rent, Donald has been successful! He is maintaining his housing and has built a strong foundation for continued stability and wellness.

Congratulations Donald, your hard work and efforts have paid off and we are so proud!

Have a person you know who needs care?

NHF has recuperative beds available at all 4 of our facilities.

MAKE A REFERRAL HERE

Pico-Union

1032 W. 18th Street

Los Angeles, CA 90015

Glendale

335 Mission Rd.

Glendale, CA 91205

Arleta

9120 Woodman Ave

Arleta, CA 91331

Ventura

2145 E. Harbor Blvd,

Ventura, CA 93001

Street Medicine: A Life Changing Approach

This month we sat down with Gregory, an individual who was first connected to NHF’s services via Street Medicine, to learn a little more about what the street medicine process looks like and learn about the impact it can have.

This interview has been shortened from its original length for the purpose of this newsletter.

Read the Full Interview Below:

Tell me a little about yourself, what is something that brings you joy?

I’m an inventor by trade. I have experience across many professions including computer technology and business management.

How would someone that is close to you describe you?

I’m an ‘old school gentleman.’ I like to think of myself as a protector, and I hate seeing injustice in the world. I believe it is crucial to be respectful and sincere to all!

Would you mind sharing a little but about how you got to where you are today?

When I was younger, I worked as a truck driver but was laid off when covid hit, putting me into a hard situation. When camping in the place I was sheltering, I was hit on the head by a hammer and pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. I survived this with 22 stitches in my head and needing time to recover. After this happened, I became estranged from my family and lost my business, leaving me in an extremely difficult situation.

What keeps you going through difficult times?

I try and stay positive and don't let the bad stuff bother me. One of the best tricks I use is to wake up every morning and make a to-do list of tasks for the day. I love helping people and I like to use comedy and improv as well.

How did you first get connected with the Street Medicine team?

I first connected with the Street Medicine team through the community center Casa de Valley View in Glendale who referred me to recuperative care. The community center is a great place and going there changed my life.

What was your experience with the Street Medicine team like?

I first want to say thank you, you all met me where I was at and now I am back on medication, receiving case management and housing navigation. I have my benefits back, and even have my medical care. You all are awesome!

What does the near future hold for you?

I am very close to moving into my new unit and am looking for things to help decorate it.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our reader?

Don't give a handout, give a hand up. Also, if you are still homeless, let the programs help you. In general, homeless people aren’t bad, many have just been in unfortunate situations, and many have injuries.

Your donation today can help someone like Gregory, donate below:

DONATE TODAY!

Meet the Team

Behind the Scenes: Keeping Our Sites Running Smoothly

When everything in our buildings is working as it should, safe, clean, and fully operational, we have our facilities team to thank. We sat down with Facilities and Operations Manager Channarith Pot and Facilities Assistant Christian Angulo to learn more about their roles.

Photo: Christian Angulo (Left) and Channarith Pot (Right)

Being on the facilities team means that no two days look the same, however, a typical day starts with reviewing maintenance requests, which can range from 5-20 in a busy week. Each request is evaluated with safety in mind: can the team handle it internally, or is it time to call a vendor?

One aspect of the job that often goes unnoticed is the level of coordination involved. From sourcing reliable, affordable vendors to ensuring they are licensed, insured, and aligned with the organization’s mission, every decision requires careful consideration. “We’re not just looking for the best price, we’re looking for quality, safety, and people who understand the communities we serve,” Pot explains.

Despite these challenges, the rewards are tangible. For Pot, there’s satisfaction in checking off completed tasks and seeing systems run smoothly. For Christian, it’s about transformation, such as watching a project come together or an upgrade come to fruition.

The facilities team also emphasizes that everyone plays a role in maintaining a functional workplace. Staff can help by reporting issues promptly and clearly through the proper channels, typically by notifying a manager who then submits a maintenance request. Small actions, like treating equipment as if it's your own, can prevent larger problems down the line.

Whether responding to emergencies or routine fixes, NHF’s facilities team stays focused on keeping spaces safe, efficient, and accessible. At its core, facilities work is more than fixing things; it’s about creating an environment where people can thrive. And thanks to the dedication of NHF's team, Pot and Christian, that work continues every day.

Community Initiatives

Food Distributions

This month, NHF officially made the transition from CalFresh Healthy Living to our new Care First Community Investment FREE Produce Distribution events. We were able to host 2 produce distribution events, one at Everest Value School and one at our Pico-Union Recuperative Care facility, providing 2,452 pounds of FREE fruits and veggies to 200 household!

Stay tuned for more events!

Check out photos from our last food distributions:

Funder Support

Albertsons' Companies Foundation

NHF would like to extend a big THANKS to the Albertsons' Companies Foundation - Nourishing Neighbors for giving our staff the opportunity to attend the National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference hosted by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) in Washington D.C. this month.

Times are really hard right now for too many households. Families are making tough decisions, including how much food to buy (or not buy), and how to get enough nutritious food. Anti-hunger policies, along with food security programs like those NHF provides, are a way to make it easier for people to get enough food. We can and must collectively do more with good policy decisions.

We appreciate the support that Albertsons' Companies Foundation has given our programs, and again for allowing us to participate in the policy discussions that really impact people's lives.

DONATE TODAY!

Interested in becoming a funder and having your organization featured?

Please reach out to us at info@nhfca.org.

Interested in diverse ways to donate? NHF now accepts cryptocurrency, stocks, and DAF's (Donor Advised Funds). These forms of donating are more tax friendly for you while still having an incredible impact for us. Check out NHF's donation page to see how to donate in this way.

Need assistance or want to speak to someone prior to donating? please reach out to us at info@nhfca.org.

Legislative Corner

NHF presents the Legislative Corner, monthly legislative updates explaining how you and your community may be impacted by ongoing changes. NHF's goal remains to operate with transparency and keep our communities informed.

In the fight against food insecurity, what we don’t measure, we can’t address.

That is why Assembly Bill 1734, also known as the Count Hunger Act, is a gamechanger for California. Introduced earlier this year, the Count Hunger Act establishes a two-year pilot program in collaboration with UCLA. Its primary goal is to ensure that comprehensive questions regarding food insecurity are permanently integrated into the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). By focusing on households at or below 400% of the federal poverty level instaed of 200%), this bill will generate the more specific data needed to understand exactly where our neighbors are falling through the cracks.

For NHF, this will help our Community Health Workers/Promotores in our CalFresh Connection program provide targeted services in communities where they are needed most. By advocating for the Count Hunger Act, we are ensuring that NHF’s boots-on-the-ground efforts are backed by the most robust data in the state. Together, we are building a foundation where no Californian remains uncounted… or hungry.