Resources for Youth
What do you need?
To Talk to Someone | Food + Housing | Students | Legal Help | Activism
Our team is consistently updating this list of resources. We hope that you find them helpful. They are not, however, associated with the campaign.
If there is a resource you would like us to include, you can do so through this form.
Talk to Someone
California Youth Crisis Line
A crisis is anytime you are feeling misunderstood or overwhelmed and needing to talk to someone about what’s happening, especially before you run away or cause harm to yourselves or others. Call or text first to learn how to handle your current and/or future crises. Translation services are available for multiple languages.
(800) 843-5200
Website
Get Involved
Volunteer with the CYCL. Due to COVID-19 they are providing opportunities for remote volunteering and online training. Reach out to logan@calyouth.org for more information.
Donate HERE.
Teen LINE
Do you need help working something out? Do you want to talk to someone who understands, like another teen? Trained teen volunteers are available via text message and email every night from 6:00pm-9:00pm PST.
Text "Teen" to 839863
6:00pm-9:00pm
You can also download Teen Talk to vent, share, and get support from a trained teen. Teen Talk is a free iPhone app where teens can get support for whatever they may be dealing with from a trained teen. It is a safe, non-judgmental space where you can anonymously post your issue at any time and get support.
Teen Talk peers are available from:
6:00pm-10:00pm PST
Get Involved
Want TEEN LINE to present to your class, school or organization? They are offering virtual online lectures and would love to reach youth at your school or organization to provide them with information on their hotline. Sign up HERE.
TEEN LINE will be holding a Spring (and Summer) volunteer Training in 2021. If you are interested in either, please sign up at the bottom of THIS PAGE to be put on their mailing list.
The TrevorLifeline
A safe, confidential Lifeline for LGBTQ Young People. The TrevorLifeline’s trained counselors are here to support you 24/7. If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk, call the TrevorLifeline now at 1 (866)-488-7386.
TrevorText is a confidential and secure resource that provides live help for LGBTQ youth with a trained specialist, over text messages. Text START to 678-678.
Visit the Trevor Support Center — Where LGBTQ youth and allies can find answers to FAQs and explore resources related to sexual orientation, gender identity and more.
Get Involved
You can volunteer with Trevor to be a digital crisis counselor or telephone crisis counselor. Please note that volunteers must be at least 18 years old to apply. Learn more HERE.
Sign up for Trevor’s newsletter HERE.
Donate to Trevor HERE.
Food + Housing
LACEHY Grocery Relief Fund
The Los Angeles Coalition to End Youth Homelessness (LACEYH) has started the #YoungPeopleToTheFront Grocery Relief fund to directly support young people in their path out of homelessness by providing direct relief to meet their basic needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To apply for a grocery card, email groceries@findyourlens.co, say Nithya For the City referred you.
Get Involved
Make a direct impact by donating now to the #YoungPeopleToTheFront Grocery Relief Fund to support the basic needs of youth in LA that are experiencing homelessness during COVID-19. Donate HERE.
My Friend’s Place
Offering limited drop-in services during COVID, providing youth with meals, clothing, emergency supplies, medical care and assessment, as well as case management services and housing support. MFP’s staff are collaborating with local partners to ensure youth experiencing homelessness are not forgotten in the face of this pandemic. Check their socials for information about service changes- @myfriendsplace.
Instagram
Website
5850 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, 90028
(323) 908-00111
Get Involved
Support MFP’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, established to support the critical supplies that will keep their facility clean, ensure that they can continue to provide youth with meals and emergency supplies and cover expenses related to an emergency sick time fund created to support staff health and wellness.
Shop online via MFP's Amazon Wishlist to help provide meals, clothing and emergency supplies to young people during this time.
THE VILLAGE FAMILY SERVICES DROP-IN CENTER FOR HOMELESS YOUTH
The Village's drop-in center is open 7 days a week to at-risk, foster, LGBTQ and homeless youth ages 14-25. In the midst of COVID-19, youth experiencing homelessness can pick up free meals and make appointments for housing intake. All youth need to wear a mask and pass a free of charge health screening, which is done on-site. There is food available to grab and go. Case management services are provided over the phone.
If you are a young person in-need of help, email drop-in@thevillagefsorg.
Drop-in center hours:
Mon–Fri: 9:30am-3:30 pm
Mon–Fri: 3:30pm–5:30pm (Appointment Only)
Sat–Sun: 9:00am–3:00 pm
6801 Coldwater Canyon Avenue
North Hollywood, CA 91605
(818) 738-7327
Get Involved
Purchase supplies for the Drop-in Center through their Amazon Wishlist HERE.
Donate to The Village Family Services HERE.
Join TVFS’s mailing list HERE.
Los Angeles LGBT Center
If you’re one of the thousands of homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning young people (ages 12 – 24) without a home, LA LGBT Center’s Youth Center welcomes you as a member.
Member services include:
Temporary housing or housing referrals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks
Showers
Clothing and laundry services
Education Program
HIV testing and counseling
Addiction recovery services
Employment program
Computer lab
Recreational activities
Art/music groups
Counseling and support groups
Call for information and services: (323) 993-7400
1625 N. Schrader Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028-6213
Get Involved
Volunteer with LGBT Center by registering for a volunteer orientation HERE.
Become a host home- help provide supportive, short-term housing for an LGBTQ youth age 18 to 24 who is experiencing housing instability as an interim step in their long-term housing plan. Youth are given weekly case management support and matches are on shared interests and goals that will create the foundation for lasting, meaningful relationships. Learn more HERE.
Donate to the LGBT Center HERE.
Safe Place For Youth
Safe Place for Youth (SPY) works with youth ages 12-25 who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
They have over a dozen different services, allowing you the flexibility to choose what you need. You can come in one day for a good meal and a hot showers, or you can create a plan with SPY and they can support you in finding employment, housing, or pursuing further education on an ongoing basis.
Need Help? Please Fill out THIS FORM!
Access Center hours:
Tues, Wed, Thu: 11:00am- 3:00pm
2469 Lincoln Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291
Website
(310) 902-2283
info@safeplaceforyouth.org
Get Involved
Volunteer with SPY by preparing and serving food, street outreach, front desk management, sorting donations, running the clothing closet, data entry, teaching workshops and leading art projects. Sign up to volunteer HERE.
SPY relies heavily on in-kind donations to keep their youth programs running. At this time they are only accepting items from their Amazon wishlist. If you'd like to arrange a time to drop off these items please contact jessicav@safeplaceforyouth.org.
Donate financially to SPY HERE.
Students
COllege Student relief list
Youth for Nithya volunteer and LACC Associated Student Government Senator of Outreach Shirali Thakkar has compiled a list of student resources for college-aged youth to find and access resources during the pandemic. The list includes resources for: Financial Aid, Cash Assistance, Hygiene, Housing, Mental Health, Technology, Textbook resources, Parent info and Food.
College Student COVID-19 Relief List
Get Involved
Know of other resources to add to this list? Contact Shirali Thakkar asgsoa@lacitycollege.edu.
Sellimas Academy
Semillas Academy is a summer college readiness workshop series geared towards rising high school seniors. This summer, they are going virtual and are opening their workshops to students from any high school, parents and community members! Take advantage of this opportunity to get a step ahead in your college application game.
Save the date for the following workshops:
Wednesday, August 5 - Getting Started: Reviewing Requirements
Tuesday, August 11 - Story of Self: How to Talk About Myself
Wednesday, August 12 - Personal Statements
Thursday, August 13 - Financial Aid
Friday, August 28 - Closing Reflection
Register HERE.
Please plan to make it to all the workshops, but if you cannot, it is totally understandable Any questions or concerns contact our Academic Services Coordinator, beatriz@innercitystruggle.org.
Get Involved
Semillas Academy is a program of InnerCity Struggle, a multi-issue organization to build stronger schools, grow civic engagement, and prevent housing displacement for a stronger and more powerful Eastside Los Angeles community. Donate to InnerCity Struggle HERE.
Los Angeles Public Library
Virtual Career Day Series
You’ll be able to meet professionals who will discuss their careers, how they got into their fields and what their day-to-day jobs are like. Teens, college students, recent college graduates and curious adults are encouraged to attend. Career Day series occur each Wednesday at 4:30pm. See Chinatown LAPL instagram HERE for more info.
Email Lnguyen@lapl.org if you’d like to attend.
LAPL Social Justice Teen Book Club
Please join Baldwin Hills LAPL to discuss the second book in their Social Justice Virtual Book Club series for teens. They’ll be discussing "Dear Martin" by Nic Stone on 7/30/20 at 5:30 p.m. online.
Email zzehdar@lapl.org to participate.
Get Involved
To volunteer, donate books, or become a supporter of LAPL, click HERE.
Legal
Youth Justice Coalition
The Youth Justice Coalition (YJC) is working to build a youth, family, and formerly and currently incarcerated people’s movement to challenge America’s addiction to incarceration and race, gender and class discrimination in Los Angeles County’s, California’s and the nation’s juvenile and criminal injustice systems.
YJC uses direct action organizing, advocacy, political education, and activist arts to agitate, expose, and pressure the people in charge in order to upset power and bring about change. Offering a free legal clinic two Saturdays a month. Learn more about the legal services they offer on their site HERE.
YJC Legal Clinic
2nd & 4th Saturdays of the month
10:00am-12:00pm
Chuco’s Justice Center
7625 South Central Ave
Los Angeles 90001
(323) 235-4243
Website
Get Involved
Be the first to hear about YJC’s latest action updates and events by signing up for their newsletter HERE.
Donate to YJC HERE.
CHIRLA
If you are a student needing immigration legal services, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), can help. We have on-campus locations at colleges across California (CSUs and Community colleges) that serve students, faculty and staff to ensure their rights and protections. The CHIRLA immigration attorneys and Department of Justice representatives at these locations provide culturally competent, reliable expertise with sensitivity to the trauma our immigrant community regularly sustains.
Legal services include:
Immigration consultations
DACA renewal
Naturalization
Family-based immigration
Know-your-rights sessions
Website
studentlegalservices@chirla.org
1 (888) 624-4752
Get Involved
Take Action- sign CHIRLA’s “Yo Soy California” petition to ensure that all immigrants in California can have equal access to health care, be part of an inclusive recovery, and get equitable justice. Sign the petition HERE.
COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting Immigrants - Help CHIRLA be there for them. Donate HERE.
Activism
Youth for Nithya
Youth for Nithya is a coalition of energized young people mobilizing to envision a more equitable and just environment for the future of LA. This group of young organizers within the campaign aim to consult, collaborate, and build community to elevate issues they care about the most.
Get Involved
If you’re a Zoomer (age 12-23) and want to volunteer with our Youth for Nithya organizing team, fill out our volunteer sign up form HERE and check the box indicating you’re interested in youth organizing. You can also contact sarah@nithyaforthecity.com for more information.
Justice in the Classroom
Justice in the Classroom (JITC), founded by one of our Youth for Nithya members, Kavita Rai, is an organization focused on mobilizing students to repair the legacy of racial inequity in America by demanding justice in the classroom. JITC has six actionable steps for school districts focused on curriculum reform, racial equity, diversity in hiring and student punishment. They offer social media explainers and toolkits around racial justice on their website HERE.
Get Involved
JITC is based out of Ventura County but is looking to expand to Los Angeles. Become a member by signing up HERE.
Email your teacher to support racial justice, sign JITC’s petition, or sign up for their newsletter HERE.
LA Students Deserve
Students Deserve is working towards making Black Lives Matter in schools. They want schools to divest from criminalization and policing. They are advocating for schools to invest in Black, Muslim, undocumented, indigenous, and queer youth in poor and working class communities of color.
LA Students Deserve has a list of COVID-19 resources that can be found HERE.
Get Involved
Contact StudentsDeserveJustice@gmail.com if you want information about online meetings and other safe ways that you can participate.
Donate to Students Deserve HERE.
Black Lives Matter LA Youth Vanguard
Youth have been integral to Black Lives Matter since their inception, with children participating in their first meetings, actions, and convenings. In 2015, BLM youth leaders officially formed the Black Lives Matter Youth Vanguard and began to organize around justice for Black children, especially in schools.
Get Involved
Email youth@blmla.org or follow on the Youth Vanguard on social media to keep in the loop on calls to action and events— @blmlayouth.
Donate to BLMLA HERE.
sunrise LA Youth
L.A. Sunrise teens help make climate change an urgent, national priority, advocate to end the corrupting influence of fossil fuel executives on our politics, and elect leaders who stand up for the health and wellbeing of all people.
Sunrise LA Youth Hub meetings are held virtually each Sunday at 4:00pm. Sign up HERE.
Get Involved
Join Sunrise L.A. Youth organizing HERE.
Sign up for Sunrise L.A. Youth email list by clicking the “Join our Mailing List” button on their website HERE.
Donate to Sunrise HERE.
Young DSA
Young Democratic Socialists of America is the youth and student section of the Democratic Socialists of America, and a national organization of recognized campus chapters and several hundred activists. We are students organizing in our universities, colleges, and high schools to fight for the immediate needs of workers and students while building our capacity to fight for more radical and structural changes
Get Involved
Find a local chapter of YDSA HERE. If there isn’t a chapter near you, fill out the interest form to start your own chapter HERE.
Donate to YDSA HERE.
United We Dream
United We Dream is the largest immigrant youth-led community in the country. UWD empowers young people to develop their leadership, organizing skills, and to develop campaigns to fight for justice and dignity for immigrants and all people. This is achieved through immigrant youth-led campaigns at the local, state, and federal level.
UWD is offering a Coronavirus Resource Hub for the Immigrant community HERE.
Get Involved
Organize with UWD HERE.
Donate to UWD HERE.