LOS ANGELES — With the recent closure of the homeless encampment in the Echo Park neighborhood, Matthew Barnett and the Los Angeles Dream Center have a simple message for their neighbors: “You are welcome here.”
This week the enforced closure of the Echo Park homeless encampment went into effect, and the police gave notice on Thursday that the area is officially closed to homeless individuals and families in need. Fences have gone up and people are once again finding themselves on the run, seeking shelter.
But the Dream Center took swift action and has already begun to take in some of those in need through their various residential programs.
“I want anyone who found shelter here on the east side of Echo Park to know that just up the road at the old Queen of Angels hospital on a hill overlooking the freeway, there is a safe home waiting for you,” said Dream Center co-founder Matthew Barnett. “Anyone looking for shelter or a one-year recovery program, we are just around the corner, and you are welcome here. We have several types of housing options available. Come by anytime and we’re happy to discuss how we can accommodate you. We understand your pain, and have many friends who have found themselves in similar situations in the past; and we’ll do everything we possibly can to help you live with dignity.”
About the Los Angeles Dream Center
The Los Angeles Dream Center is a faith-based non-profit organization located in Echo Park, dedicated to transforming lives and underserved communities in the city of Los Angeles. By offering residential and outreach programs to individuals, families and communities in the areas of homelessness, hunger, poverty, addiction, domestic violence, education, and human trafficking, the Dream Center is committed to enabling immediate and long-term transformation. The Dream Center welcomes those in need into our community completely free-of-charge with the resources, training, and support they need, regardless of faith, age, gender, orientation, nationality, or any other defining factor.
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