LA:RISE
Supporting Economic Mobility with Paid Job Training and Work Experience for Individuals Experiencing or At Risk of Homelessness
LA:RISE (Los Angeles Regional Initiative for Social Enterprises) is a nationally recognized workforce model connecting adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness to paid work, career services, and a pathway to permanent employment.
Launched by the City of Los Angeles in 2015 and expanded countywide by DEO in 2018, LA:RISE brings together Employment Social Enterprises (ESEs) — mission-driven organizations that provide paid transitional employment — and America’s Job Centers of California (AJCCs) to deliver wraparound support that addresses both immediate needs and long-term career goals.
Participants receive paid work experience in high-growth industries, skills training, personalized case management, and supportive services — all coordinated through a single, seamless program designed to help people move out of instability into sustained economic self-sufficiency.
What the Program Offers
Eligibility
LA:RISE is open to adults who meet all the following criteria:
- Legal right to work in the United States
- At least 18 years old
- Los Angeles County resident
- Currently experiencing homelessness, formerly homeless, or at risk of homelessness
- Under‑ or unemployed
Program History
Participant Story
“The LA:RISE program offered me not only an opportunity to find employment but they also did so with understanding and support. After being incarcerated I worried about how difficult finding a new job would be, but they have helped me to regain my confidence and continue to help support me as I continue my education. I am really grateful that the LA:RISE program exists and is helping to change lives for the better. Thank you!”
— Jessica M., LA:RISE Participant
LA:RISE launched in 2015 with a Workforce Innovation Fund (WIF) grant developed through a partnership between the Los Angeles Economic & Workforce Development Department (EWDD) and the Roberts Enterprise Development Fund (REDF). The program was designed from the outset to enhance transitional employment services for individuals facing the highest barriers to work—including people experiencing homelessness, justice-involved individuals, and disconnected youth.
Following the pilot phase, LA:RISE expanded with investments from both the City and County of Los Angeles. The program integrated Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) services and local support systems to improve transitions from subsidized work to competitive employment. Funding included general fund and homelessness-focused investments, including Measure H and now Measure A, the voter-approved sales tax dedicated to addressing homelessness across the County.
In 2026, DEO is investing $1.78 million in Measure A funding to serve 202 participants experiencing or at risk of homelessness — part of the $80 million invested in LA:RISE since 2015 across the City and County of Los Angeles. The program will be provided through partnerships with seven ESE providers serving communities across Los Angeles County, including the historically under-served communities of Skid Row and the Antelope Valley.
people placed into TSE and received supportive services
participants placed into permanent, unsubsidized jobs
in total program investment since 2015
How to Get Started
Interested individuals can connect with LA:RISE by contacting one of our ESE partners, who serve as the main access point for program participation. Information is also available at local AJCCs.
DEO’s Employment Social Enterprise Partners
DEO is currently supporting seven ESE partners with information below.
To learn more about all LA:RISE partners and ESE opportunities, including those supported by the City, visit: https://redf.org/larise/
For general questions about LA:RISE and other workforce opportunities, email DEO at: HOME@opportunity.lacounty.gov
| Organization | Transitional Employment Opportunities | Priority Area | Address | Phone | Website |
| Downtown Women’s Center | Café operations, retail sales, product manufacturing, inventory & logistics, customer service | Skid Row | 442 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles, CA 90013 | (213) 680-0600- | downtownwomenscenter.org |
| Managed Career Solutions | Construction, green construction, trades, transportation & logistics, warehouse operations, CDL pathway | Skid Row | 3333 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 405, Los Angeles, CA 90010 | (213) 355-5300 | mcscareergroup.com |
| Antelope Valley Partners for Health | Facilities maintenance, building operations, logistics & warehouse support, community service operations | Antelope Valley | 858 W. Jackman St., Lancaster, CA 93534 | (661) 942-4719 | avph.org |
| Chrysalis | Facilities maintenance, landscaping, environmental services, janitorial, construction support, general labor | Skid Row | 522 S. Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90013 | (213) 806-6300 | changelives.org |
| Center for Employment Opportunities | Public works, litter abatement, landscaping, infrastructure maintenance, construction labor, environmental services | Countywide | 759 N. Spring St., Ste 1, Los Angeles, CA 90012 | (323)357-6305 | ceoworks.org |
| CRCD Enterprises | Construction support, graffiti abatement, facilities maintenance, custodial, public works & beautification | Countywide | 2415 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90011 | (213) 743-6193 | crcdent.com |
| Goodwill of Southern California | Retail operations, logistics & warehousing, distribution, hospitality, construction pre-apprenticeship | Countywide | 342 N. San Fernando Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90031 | (323) 223-1211 | goodwillsocal.org |
