Programs
Certified Homeless Outreach
The Big Blue Umbrella Non-Profit is home to the nation’s first corps of Certified Homelessness Advocates (CHAs). Trained and certified by the Homelessness Advocate Certification Board (HACB), CHAs help individuals and families experiencing homelessness secure housing, employment and supportive wrap-around services. Equipped with tablets and resource providers available in real-time, our compassionate CHA outreach specialists bring vital resources directly to the individuals in need, thereby increasing the speed at which individuals access resources and transition from unhoused to housed.
Housing
The Big Blue Umbrella’s housing initiatives offer a lifeline to vulnerable populations by providing transitional and permanent housing solutions that also include employment. Through our vocational programs, individuals gain access to a robust network of providers, developers, and property management companies dedicated to serving those in need. Upon program completion, graduates receive personalized housing opportunities that also include employment. TheBBU will even consider co-signing for a client’s housing. TheBBU’s commitment goes beyond housing– to ensure that every participant has a stable foundation from which to build a more sustainable future.
A Better Tomorrow
Funded by the Los Angeles County Justice Care and Opportunities Department’s Care First Community Investment (CFCI) Care Grant, The Big Blue Umbrella is committed to providing vulnerable, justice-impacted individuals and communities with a person-centered continuum of care that includes:
- The establishment of a mental health clinic
- Mental health services and recovery plans
- Emergency housing and food for individuals and families
- Vocational training, job placement and referrals
- Transportation to medical appointments
- Life-Skill Counseling
- Anger Management /Conflict management /effective communication skills
- Wellness field trips
The goal of TheBBU’s “A Better Tomorrow” program is to help program participants create a greater version of themselves.
Medical Respite Care
The Big Blue Umbrella’s Medical Respite Care services (also known as Recuperative Care) offer temporary housing and medical care for unhoused individuals recovering from illness or surgery. With over 76,000 individuals experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County and only 1,163 recuperative care beds, the need is urgent. Recuperative Care fills a critical gap in providing post-hospitalization care to unhoused patients too ill to recover on the streets but not sick enough to remain in the hospital.
Our Medical Respite Care services:
- Help individuals regain stability and move toward self-sufficiency by offering a safe and supportive environment for patients to heal, receive necessary medical care, and prepare for reintegration into society.
- Our MRC services also aim to help participants achieve job readiness, fostering a sense of independence and encouraging them to seek employment opportunities.
Ultimately, TheBBU MRC services address the gap between hospitalization and stable housing, reducing hospital readmissions, improving health outcomes, and fostering independence for clients in the program.
Recycling
Recycling Just Got Easier
TheBBU’s Recycle.Blue program is on a mission to make recycling simple, rewarding and fun for everyone. We help households and entire communities recycle effortlessly while contributing to a cleaner, greener future. Whether you’re an individual household, a PTA volunteer, a community organization or a business, TheBBU mobile app streamlines the recycling process so you can easily participate to reduce unrecyclable waste going to landfills. Households, schools, community organizations and businesses simply place their recyclables in our Recycle.Blue bags, scan and schedule a pickup via our mobile app and get paid the CA CRV cash refund without leaving the comfort of home or office! One can even choose to donate the refund to their local school or nonprofit organization.
Veterans Services
The Big Blue Umbrella is proud to offer a robust mix of services to support veteran reintegration, re-acclamation, and re entry. Educational and vocational goals will be assisted with job training, employment, and housing opportunities. The BBU offers additional wrap-around services like case management, counseling, crisis care, outreach, emergency housing.
Creative Arts
The Big Blue Umbrella’s innovative Creative Arts Program (CAP) combines creativity, mental health, and community-building. By offering hands-on experience in visual arts, film, and music, the CAP empowers participants to express themselves, manage stress, and foster emotional well-being.
TheBBU Creative Arts Program aims to :
Promote Mental Well-Being by utilizing creative expression to help participants manage stress, anxiety, and depression.
Foster Community Engagement by creating a space for participants to collaborate and connect through shared artistic experiences.
Enhance Skills Development by equiping participants with practical skills in visual arts, film production, and music production.
Encourage Personal Growth by empowering individuals to explore self-expression and build confidence in their creative abilities.
Youth Programs
The Big Blue Umbrella NonProfit offers a range of youth programs designed to support the holistic development of young people in grades 6-12, as well as those transitioning out of foster care in Los Angeles County. Our programs foster creativity, social skills, and physical health through diverse activities, including creative arts workshops, film and music production, dance, and podcast production.
By engaging youth in hands-on experiences, we empower them to express themselves artistically and develop technical skills that prepare them for future opportunities. In addition to creative pursuits:
- TheBBU emphasizes mental well-being through mindfulness practices, promotes civic engagement through community service projects, and supports physical health with outdoor adventures and indoor sports, particularly basketball.
- Our literacy and academic support programs enhance educational growth, ensuring participants are equipped for academic success.
- To further assist youth in need, we provide transitional housing for young mothers and those exiting foster care, offering a stable environment along with essential resources for personal and professional development.
Through mentorship and a supportive community, TheBBU is dedicated to helping young people discover their potential and thrive.
Heroes Across America
TheBBU Heroes Across America program offers unique assistance to homeless veterans– providing guaranteed employmen and housing that help to restore dignity and achieve self-sufficiency.