History and Mission

Shelter Partnership was established in 1985 as a result of a community planning process, which determined that there needed to be an organization that worked throughout Los Angeles County to help develop housing and resources for the growing number of homeless people who were becoming more visible in our communities. While many community groups had good intentions, there was a lack of expertise (which  continues to exist today) in the nuts and bolts of housing development as well as program development that would ultimately stymie the community's creativity and resourcefulness and act as a barrier to realizing a significant increase in housing opportunities for people who were homeless. The late Dennis Albaugh, then of United Way and a founding board member of Shelter Partnership, convened the planning efforts for his new initiative. Ann Reiss Lane, appointed by the late Mayor and went on to serve as the Chairperson of the newly Created organization-Shelter Partnership , Inc.

Beginning that first day, we started providing technical assistance to community-based agencies assisting the homeless.

By early 1985, the community leadership was in place with the late Mayor Tom Bradley; then Mayor of the Board of Supervisors, Edmund Edelman; and past United Way President Frances McNamara, united in their determination to launch Shelter Partnership under their respective auspices. 

On March 3rd, 1985, we opened our doors with only $5,000 in the bank and free office space donated to us by SRO Housing Corp. Since that day, Shelter Partnership has worked to established itself as a leader in the fight against homelessness in Los Angeles County. The agency accomplishes its mission through the following activities:

• Operating the S. Mark Taper Foundation Shelter Resource Bank by soliciting large-scale donations of merchandise and ensuring that these items are delivered to the people and agencies who need them most complete free of charge;
• Providing technical assistance to community-based organizations and public agencies (helping agencies receive more than $1 billion in federal funds);
• Conducting research and publishing analytical studies to inform public policy;
• Promoting community education.

Agency Mission Statement

Shelter Partnership, Inc. is a nonprofit organization collaboratively solving homelessness in Los Angeles County through policy analysis, program design, resource development, and advocacy in support of agencies and local governments that serve the homeless.