From Shelter to Suite

Upward Bound House Family Shelter from DocuCinema on Vimeo.

Upward Bound House is a community-based, social services agency located in Santa Monica whose mission is to eliminate homelessness among families with children in Los Angeles by providing housing, supportive services and advocacy. A friend of mine is their volunteer coordinator and was involved with this amazing project. Family Shelter, a homeless shelter located in West Los Angeles serves approximately 210 children and their parents. Families stay in the units for three months, during which time they work with case managers to get back on their feet through employment services and permanent housing placement assistance. Since 1997, more than 1,100 individuals – including over 650 children – have graduated from Upward Bound House and are no longer homeless.

Family Shelter, however, is not your typical refuge with bare walls and spare interiors. A group of professional interior designers volunteered their services to decorate each of the 18 units. These units are filled with modern furniture and colorful, sleek accessories that could be taken from the pages of Dwell magazine or your favorite HGTV showcase. Many of the furniture pieces are refurbished or reclaimed. Nothing about these rooms evokes a sense of displacement or despair. By turning this concept of a basic shelter into warm luxurious suites, Family Shelter inspires and elevates hope to its residents by brightening their living space and their outlook on the future.