A Los Alamitos-based nonprofit, Casa Youth Shelter, returned to the Long Beach area with its annual fundraising gala — dubbed “Art With Heart” — in early May, highlighting and celebrating the organization’s mission of providing a safe haven for Southern Californian youth experiencing abuse, homelessness, human trafficking, and mental health crises.
The organization’s gala, held at the Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach, raised $335,000 for its myriad programs while championing the artwork of participants from its feature art therapy program.
“(Our gala) is our big fundraiser event,” Jessica Hubbard, CEO of Casa Youth Shelter, said in an interview. “The idea of it is to make sure that our guests understood that this was a mission-focused event and that everything we do, everything that we produce, focuses on (our) mission and (our) work that’s being done.”
The gala offered an opportunity for the public to understand the impact that art therapy can have on children undergoing clinical treatment, Hubbard said.
“All of the art that the kids are creating during their experience tells a story of their transformation — of their healing,” Hubbard said. “We wanted to put that on display (and we) felt that it was a beautiful and ethical way to share their experience with our guests.”
The Casa Youth Shelter held its annual fundraising gala on May 10 at the Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach. Dubbed as “Art With Heart,” the organization raised $335,000, highlighting the organization’s feature therapeutic art services. Funds raised at the gala will continue to forward the organization’s mission of providing a safe haven and comprehensive support services for youth experiencing abuse, homelessness, human trafficking, and mental health crises, according to the organization. (Photo courtesy of The Casa Youth Shelter)
The Casa Youth Shelter held its annual fundraising gala on May 10 at the Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach. Dubbed as “Art With Heart,” the organization raised $335,000, highlighting the organization’s feature therapeutic art services. Funds raised at the gala will continue to forward the organization’s mission of providing a safe haven and comprehensive support services for youth experiencing abuse, homelessness, human trafficking, and mental health crises, according to the organization. (Photo courtesy of The Casa Youth Shelter)
The Casa Youth Shelter held its annual fundraising gala on May 10 at the Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach. Dubbed as “Art With Heart,” the organization raised $335,000, highlighting the organization’s feature therapeutic art services. Funds raised at the gala will continue to forward the organization’s mission of providing a safe haven and comprehensive support services for youth experiencing abuse, homelessness, human trafficking, and mental health crises, according to the organization. (Photo courtesy of The Casa Youth Shelter)
The Casa Youth Shelter held its annual fundraising gala on May 10 at the Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach. Dubbed as “Art With Heart,” the organization raised $335,000, highlighting the organization’s feature therapeutic art services. Funds raised at the gala will continue to forward the organization’s mission of providing a safe haven and comprehensive support services for youth experiencing abuse, homelessness, human trafficking, and mental health crises, according to the organization. (Photo courtesy of The Casa Youth Shelter)
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The Casa Youth Shelter’s main goal is to support underserved kids across Southern California.
For nearly 45 years, the organization has been serving individuals ages 12 to 17 who are experiencing abuse, homelessness, sex trafficking and mental health challenges. With a mission to create a safe environment for all adolescents, Casa Youth Shelter specializes in providing residential shelter programming, clinical therapeutic counseling, and more.
“(We are) so much more than the shelter….healing does take place within (our) walls but it’s the experience of one having (the) safety of a bed, food and nourishment — which for some of our kids is the first time they’ve ever slept in a bed or had a room for themselves,” Hubbard said.
The organization established its roots in Los Alamitos, Orange County, when founder and retired Navy Lt. Commander Myldred E. Jones sought the need to provide a space of safety and security for the youth experiencing homelessness and abuse, according to Hubbard.
Jones’sphilanthropic efforts have been recognized by five U.S. presidents, Generals Colin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf, and Pope John XXII — highlighting her life dedication to social work and public service, according to the organization’s website.
The nonprofit’s Los Alamitos location, according to Hubbard, allows it to fill a gap in services for youth in both Los Angeles and Orange Counties — and especially in Long Beach.
“What’s great about that is, (we’re) right on the line of Orange County (and) Los Angeles County,” Hubbard said. “(There’s a) lack of services in this space between Culver City in LA and Huntington Beach in Orange County — we’re the only facility of this kind to offer these emergency services and sheltering for kids in crisis. This just doesn’t exist.”
In all of Orange County, for example, there are only 18 available licensed shelter beds for youth experiencing a crisis, according to Hubbard — 12 of which are occupied by Casa Youth Shelter.
“The need is great,” Hubbard said. “There are so many kids that can benefit (from) and require the services. There’s so much that we’re doing, but there’s just so few places that are operating to provide (it).”
Last year, the Casa Youth Shelter partnered with the Long Beach Unified School District to dedicate their resources to high school students identifying as homeless and runaway in Jordan, Cabrillo, Millikan, Wilson and Long Beach Poly. In Long Beach, 24% of youth under 18 live in families with income below the federal poverty line, according to a city report.
That six-week program provided about 182 high school students with resources such as basic needs, housing, and educational workshops last summer, according to the organization.
Of those 182 students, nearly 77% were brand new to the organization — affirming the need of comprehensive care and education to the Long Beach youth.
“(Long Beach) is one of the cities in which we serve the highest number of youth,” Hubbard said. “We have a strong partnership with the city of Long Beach and Long Beach schools so we’ve been serving Long Beach and consider them one of our primary points of service for many years.”
For more information on Casa Youth Shelter and its resources, visit their website casayouthshelter.org.
