This is the only non-profit on the westside that has minimal barriers and is open for college students that are in need of housing. This organization is an invaluable and extremely detrimental piece to helping our crisis of housing insecurity amongst students. The only issue currently is the lack of available beds, because while at capacity, many more students need a place, with supportive services, to live. LA Room & Board ensures these needs and securities.
This is an an amazing and innovative nonprofit that is truly meeting a need in a way I don't see from other housing nonprofits. The work towards collaborating with local colleges while also providing direct and tailored services to homeless students is thoughtfully done and set up in a way that can only lead to a lifetime of success for the young people involved! Kudos to LARNB!
Sam Prater and Los Angeles Room & Board is committed to helping students achieve their personal, professional, and financial goals. UNIFY Financial Credit Union partnered with the Tackle Young Foundation to provide 6 weeks of financial education to all LA Room & Board Students.
LA Room & Board is a wonderful organization providing much needed services to students and young people in Los Angeles. Their leadership is committed, has lived experience and works hard everyday to ensure the needs of their students are met. Grateful to have this wonderful organization as part of the LA service delivery system.
I was introduced to LA Room & Board a year ago as co-mentor to the young adults at the Opportunity House. The tireless work and effort that is being done to help support these young adults is incredible and I am grateful to be a part of it. It has been amazing to see these young adults thrive. Sam and his team go beyond what is asked to provide these students what they need to succeed. It is a family and I love that.
A unique organization based in the heart of Los Angeles helping build opportunity for students experiencing housing insecurity. Without the critical work of the Los Angeles Room and Board, students now have the opportunity to find refuge in a safe space to complete their education. As someone who works in higher education I witness countless stories of students who have been forced to deal with the challenges of being houseless. Los Angeles Room and Board is transforming the lives of our future leaders.
I’ve had the opportunity to converse with the students from LA Room and Board. The heartfelt experiences and relatable struggles reminded me of my transition to LA. I strongly suggest that this project become a movement ,which could ignite the healing many communities across America had longed for.
Los Angeles Room & Board (LARNB) has accomplished something very few non-profits can at this stage in their lifespan and as a board member, it is exciting to be part of such innovation, change and trailing-blazing. I have served on over half a dozen non-profit boards, both regional and prominent national organizations. So when I say LARNB is an impressive and impactful organization, it is in the context of this wealth of experience and exposure to various operational styles. LARNB's focus is to house housing insecure and homeless college students, while also addressing related issues such as food insecurity, mental health, general health, academic support and other supportive services necessary for the success of students. It was alarming how little was done in this area in a focused and intentional way (instead of a by-product of the larger homelessness or general college effort). This is important as this level of dedication is needed to ensure student success.
LARNB has also managed to build a healthy pool of consistent funders and grant sources that has permitted it to have enough funds for its Opportunity House for several years. LARNB recognizes that their model is successful but needs to be expanded. It is exciting to see LARNB scaling its programming efforts and playing a larger role on system change discussions. Supporting an organization like LARNB does not just translate to greater direct services to support students much in need, it also translates to creating larger system changes that can ensure all our students can achieve their academic goals. Educational equity is critical, and LARNB is playing a major role to ensure this happens! Get involved, be a part of a historic movement.
I have volunteered with LA Room & Board for just over a year, helping host monthly gathering through another organization, but also volunteering at their first annual fundraiser over the summer. The students are truly amazing, and what LARNB has made possible for them is inspiring. I was fortunate to help the first students move in last summer, and have been connected with the organization ever since. The kinship and community is palpable and seeing the students succeed is beyond measure.
A wonderful , sincere and successful effort in Los Angeles to help people help themselves. Run by Sam Prater with energy and compassion, young people who are trying to improve their lot in life by pursuing their educational goals despite personal hardship and homelessness, people who want to be independent and hold up their end of the "social contract," are given the support they need. This is not bout handouts, but about teaching a person to fish so they can feed themselves. It isn't just about a place to stay, it is also about support and counseling and community and acceptance and having standards. I am thrilled and honored to be associated with Sam and LA Room and Board.
LA Room and Board is an exceptional organization, building a stable environment for students who have all the capacity to succeed. The "home" they provide for systems-involved folks is a source of community and stability. Sam Prater is an incredible leader, and someone who has clear goals as well as standards. LA Room and Board has a promising future, and the capacity to fulfill it.
We are thrilled to partner with LA Room and Board. The intentionality, passion, approach and compassion LA Room and Board gives to their clients is what other organizations should thrive for. It's important that we continue to provide support and care for this organization to continue to thrive and move this work forward!