Union Station Unveils Blueprint to Combat San Gabriel Valley Homelessness

PASADENA, CA – March 24, 2026 – As Los Angeles County grapples with a persistent housing crisis, Union Station Homeless Services (USHS) today launched an ambitious three-year strategic plan aimed at fortifying the San Gabriel Valley's response to homelessness. The new framework arrives at a critical juncture, with regional data presenting a complex picture of both progress and localized setbacks.

While the latest county-wide figures from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) showed a modest 4% decrease in the overall homeless population in 2025, the reality on the ground in cities like Pasadena tells a different story. The city, a central hub in the San Gabriel Valley, experienced a 4% increase in its homeless population, with a 7% rise in individuals living without shelter. This underscores the urgent need for the targeted, multi-faceted approach that USHS aims to implement.

“Our community continues to face enormous challenges when it comes to housing stability,” said Katie Hill, Chief Executive Officer of Union Station Homeless Services, in the announcement. “This strategic plan helps ensure that Union Station can continue responding to those challenges while strengthening the programs and partnerships that help people move from homelessness to stability.”

A Proactive Shift from Crisis to Prevention

At the heart of the new strategy is a decisive shift from solely managing the crisis to proactively preventing it. The plan is built on five strategic priorities designed to create a more resilient and supportive ecosystem for the region's most vulnerable residents.

The first pillar, Prevention and Early Intervention, seeks to stem the tide of new homelessness by providing households with rental assistance, legal mediation, and connections to support services before they lose their housing. This upstream approach directly confronts the economic instability and soaring housing costs cited as primary drivers of homelessness in Southern California.

Recognizing that homelessness is often intertwined with complex health issues, the plan heavily emphasizes Behavioral Health Services Integration. This priority aims to embed mental health and substance use care directly within housing and service programs. With LAHSA data indicating that 22% of the county's homeless population experiences a substance use disorder, this integrated model is critical for supporting long-term recovery and housing stability.

Furthering the goal of long-term independence, the plan includes a robust Workforce Development component. By creating tailored job training programs and clear employment pathways, USHS intends to equip individuals with the skills and confidence needed to rebuild their financial futures. This is complemented by an expansion of Food Services, which will not only ensure consistent access to nutritious meals but also create opportunities for community engagement and culinary skills training.

Building Housing and a Foundation for Success

The plan’s capstone priority is Housing Development and Affordable Housing. USHS aims to directly address the region's critical shortage of affordable units by expanding its own housing opportunities and strengthening partnerships with developers and municipalities. This acknowledges the fundamental reality that services, no matter how comprehensive, are insufficient without a safe and permanent place to call home.

This comprehensive strategy is backed by the organization's significant financial and operational capacity. With an annual revenue of over $41.2 million reported in 2024 and a top 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for financial accountability, USHS has demonstrated its ability to manage large-scale public and private funding effectively. The organization is a key recipient of funds from Los Angeles County's Measure A sales tax, which allocated over $900 million for homeless services in the current fiscal year, and has a proven track record of securing substantial grants from private foundations.

This financial underpinning supports the argument that such comprehensive services are not merely an expense but a sound social and economic investment. By preventing homelessness and fostering self-sufficiency, the plan aims to reduce long-term costs associated with emergency services, public health, and the justice system, contributing to the overall well-being of the entire San Gabriel Valley.

Leveraging 50 Years of Experience and Community Trust

Executing this ambitious vision requires deep community roots and a robust network, which Union Station Homeless Services has cultivated for over half a century. As the lead agency for the Coordinated Entry System in Service Planning Area 3 (SPA 3), which covers 36 communities across the San Gabriel Valley, USHS is the central nervous system for the region's homeless services.

The organization coordinates with over 130 local partners, from municipal bodies like the Pasadena Police Department’s HOPE Team to healthcare providers like the USC Keck School of Medicine’s Street Medicine Team. This extensive network is essential for everything from initial street outreach and assessment to housing placement and long-term case management.

The effectiveness of this integrated model is reflected in the organization's outcomes. USHS reports a 97% success rate in helping individuals and families who complete its programs remain housed, a testament to the efficacy of its supportive services. With a history of serving more than 4,000 people each year, the new strategic plan represents a scaling and deepening of a proven approach. The plan's emphasis on strengthening these partnerships further signals an understanding that tackling a systemic issue like homelessness cannot be done in isolation but requires a unified, community-wide effort. The success of this new chapter for USHS will depend on mobilizing this entire network to meet the rising challenges ahead.