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Our Community La
Our Community La
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About this organization
Mission
OUR CHILDREN LA (OCLA) IS A VOLUNTEER-LED, 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION THAT LEVERAGES TECHNOLOGY FOR SOCIAL GOOD FOR THE BENEFIT OF HOMELESS AND NEARLY-HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS. USING MOBILE COMMUNICATION AND WEB-BASED RESOURCES, OCLA EMPOWERS HOMELESS AND AT-RISK YOUTH, FAMILIES AND ADULTS TO FACILITATE POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR LIVES. OCLA DELIVERS THREE PRIMARY PROGRAMS: THE WIN (WHAT I NEED) MOBILE APP (WHICH EMPOWERS VULNERABLE AND RESOURCE-INSECURE INDIVIDUALS TO LOCATE THE SERVICES THEY NEED TO BUILD A LIFE OUT OF POVERTY; THE DIRECTORY OF SERVICES FOR HOMELESS, WHICH OFFERS UP-TO-DATE RESOURCE LISTING USED BY LIBRARIANS, TEACHERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS TO CONNECT HOMELESS YOUTH, ADULTS AND FAMILIES TO NEEDED SERVICES; AND THE OURCHILDRENLA.ORG WEBSITE, WHICH HOSTS THE WEB VERSION OF THE APP AND THE PDF OF THE DIRECTORY ALONG WITH PROMOTING COMMUNITY AWARENESS ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF THE HOMELESS AND LIFTING UP CHANGE IDEAS AND RESEARCH.
About
WIN (WHAT I NEED) IS A FREE MOBILE APPLICATION DESIGNED TO EMPOWER REGIONAL HOMELESS OR RESOURCE-INSECURE YOUTH, (AGES 12-25), FAMILIES AND ADULTS TO CONNECT TO 12 CATEGORIES OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. FIRST RELEASED IN THE GOOGLEPLAY AND ITUNES STORES IN NOVEMBER 2015, WIN WAS REDESIGNED WITH THE SUPPORT OF A TEAM OF LOCAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPERS. THE NEWEST WIN WAS RELEASED IN FALL 2018. WIN NOW NOT ONLY LISTS PROGRAMS THAT YOUTH, FAMILIES AND ADULTS CAN WALK INTO WITHOUT A REFERRAL BUT ALSO SENDS USERS HELPFUL ANNOUNCEMENTS INCLUDING INFORMATION ABOUT JOB FAIRS, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS. WIN EMPOWERS YOUTH/FAMILIES/ ADULTS TO LOCATE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED, USING TECHNOLOGY AND RESOURCES THAT PEOPLE TODAY TRUST- CELL PHONES AND THE INTERNET. (THE VAST MAJORITY OF HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS UNDER 40 HAS SMART PHONES AND CAN ACCESS THE INTERNET USING WI-FI. FREE WI-FI IS WIDELY AVAILABLE AT LIBRARIES AND COFFEE SHOPS IN LA COUNTY.) EVERY VERSION OF WIN HAS BEEN BUILT WITH THE GUIDANCE AND INPUT OF REGIONAL HOMELESS YOUTH AND ADULTS. THIS SEARCHABLE APPLICATION CURRENTLY OPERATES IN LA COUNTY, OFFERING INFORMATION AND LIVE CONNECTIONS TO OVER 1800 AREA PROGRAMS PROVIDING FOOD, SHELTER, HEALTH/MENTAL HEALTH, LEGAL, DROP-IN/ACCESS CENTERS, JOBS, TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT BENEFITS, HOTLINES, CRISIS SUPPORTS AND MORE. A WEB VERSION OF WIN IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR FREE USE ON THE OCLA WEBSITE. WIN HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE TOP 3 RESOURCES FOR LA'S HOMELESS YOUTH AND IS FEATURED ON THE LA HOMELESS SERVICES AUTHORITY'S WEBSITE. MANY PROVIDERS REQUIRE THEIR STAFF AND/OR CLIENTS TO DOWNLOAD WIN BECAUSE IT IS THE BEST RESOURCE ACCESS TOOL IN THE COUNTY. WIN IS SCALABLE AND DESIGNED WITH THE CAPACITY TO ADD AND SERVE OTHER REGIONS. WIN'S MOST IMPORTANT ACCOMPLISHMENT HOWEVER IS THAT STREET YOUTH AND ADULTS HAVE TOLD US THAT WIN EMPOWERS THEM TO FIND HELP, OFFERS HOPE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ITS VERY EXISTENCE MAKES THEM FEEL VALUED AND WORTHY OF SUPPORT.
Interesting data from their 2019 990 filing
From their filing, the objective of the non-profit is stated as “Our children la (ocla) was founded by denise mccain-tharnstrom and a few volunteers who believed that no one, especially a young person, deserves to be hungry or without a roof. ocla began with the concept of a website to build awareness and support for homeless youth....but soon realized that so much more was needed. understanding that technology actually is the best way to reach underserved youth populations in today's world, ocla developed win, a mobile app designed to connect la county's homeless and nearly homeless to services. win is available in the mobile app stores and is additionally hosted on ocla's website. ocla also publishes the only comprehensive county-wide resource guide for homeless youth/ families/adults. the guide is available on ocla's website as well as via hard copy and is used by teachers, libraries and others in settings where a mobile app is not as useful or appropriate.”.
When talking about its functions, they were outlined as: “Our children la (ocla) is a volunteer-led, 501(c)3 organization that leverages technology for social good for the benefit of homeless and nearly-homeless individuals. using mobile communication and web-based resources, ocla empowers homeless and at-risk youth, families and adults to facilitate positive change in their lives. ocla delivers three primary programs: the win (what i need) mobile app (which empowers vulnerable and resource-insecure individuals to locate the services they need to build a life out of poverty; the directory of services for homeless, which offers up-to-date resource listing used by librarians, teachers and social workers to connect homeless youth, adults and families to needed services; and the ourchildrenla.org website, which hosts the web version of the app and the pdf of the directory along with promoting community awareness about the plight of the homeless and lifting up change ideas and research.”.
- The legally reported state of operation for the non-profit is CA.
- According to the filing, the non-profit's address in 2019 is PO BOX 676, PACIFIC PALISADES, CA, 902720676.
- The non-profit organization as of 2019 has a total of 2 employees reported on their form.
- Is not a private foundation.
- Expenses are less than $100,000.
- Revenue is less than $100,000.
- Revenue less expenses is $34,595.
- The organization has 5 independent voting members.
- The organization was formed in 2011.
- The organization pays $4,042 in salary, compensation, and benefits to its employees.
- The organization pays $75 in fundraising expenses.
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