At The Midnight Mission, we believe that everyone deserves the resources, help, and support needed to live a life of dignity, and our mission is to provide it to the unhoused community of greater Los Angeles. As a homeless services provider operating in the Los Angeles area since 1914, we are proud to offer a comprehensive range of homeless services including emergency shelters, family living programs, job training programs, and much more for people experiencing homelessness in LA. We believe that homeless services should go beyond emergencies, which is why we are proud to offer health and wellness programs for homeless individuals.
At The Midnight Mission, our mission is to empower homeless individuals to live a better life and make the changes needed to get back on their feet for the long-term. Our Health & Wellness services include primary healthcare and fitness and exercise opportunities designed to improve the physical, social, and emotional health of all our clients.
A wellness plan is a key component of our homeless health program. We proudly offer a range of specialty classes, including Yoga, Meditation, and Tai Chi, along with one-on-one consultation, training, and dietary guidance to help participants improve their overall well-being and prevent and overcome debilitating health problems.
Experiencing homelessness can often contribute to problems of social isolation and a lack of healthy contact with others, and these issues can make it much harder to make the changes needed to get back on one’s feet. Participants entering The Midnight Mission health program learn to respect and help each other through sports and community activities, while team sports like basketball, ping pong, volleyball, and social games offer additional ways to develop social skills. These activities are more than just great ways to get fit: they are a chance to connect and engage with others and to practice the struggle and victory that comes in life. Physical health can support sobriety and personal achievement, improving the chances of sustainable recovery and ongoing good health.
In addition to our team activities, each homeless health participant also has the opportunity to join the running club, the Midnight Runners. They run as part of The Skid Row Running Club with founder Judge Craig Mitchell every Monday and Thursday at 6:00 am. The club meets in the lobby at The Midnight Mission, and is open to anyone in the community. All are welcome. To learn more about the Skid Row Running Club, which is currently featured in the documentary “Skid Row Marathon” that follows Judge Mitchell and the club, please visit www.skidrowrunningclub.com.
Homelessness can increase the chance of developing health problems like diseases of the feet, hands, and skin, and it can also increase the likelihood of trauma, especially due to physical assault or rape. These, combined with other common problems that people experiencing homelessness often face, can turn relatively minor health problems into serious illnesses.
The Midnight Mission is proud to provide primary healthcare and long-term support to homeless individuals throughout Los Angeles, offering resources to treat problems like these. We strive to assist clients to both treat and prevent problems commonly associated with homelessness, including:
We work hard to provide the resources, services, and support that people experiencing homelessness need to get back on their feet and start the next chapter in their lives. But, we can’t do it without the help of donors and volunteers just like you. If you’d like to support The Midnight Mission in this life-saving and life-transforming work, take the initiative and make a donation or join us in volunteering for The Midnight Mission today. Together, we can make a difference in our community and help provide a path to self-sufficiency for men, women, and children who have lost direction.
For more information, contact Matt Scharf, Recovery Program Director, at mscharf@midnightmission.org, (213) 624-9258, Ext. 1701.