Being Well: Centering Wellbeing for Frontline Workers in LA's Homeless Response Sector
Being Well brought together 78 frontline workers from across Los Angeles' homeless response sector for a two-day wellbeing gathering at The Beehive in South LA (May 29-30, 2025). The event offered participants space for healing, connection, and reimagining what supportive workplaces could look like.
The Challenge Frontline Workers Face
"I think one reality about frontline work in homeless services is that oftentimes frontline workers don't have the same resources that we try to offer our clients," shared one participant in recordings captured at the event.
This situation reflects broader challenges in LA's homeless response workforce. Through audio testimonials recorded at the event, participants shared the realities of frontline work:
Many workers are "one paycheck away" from needing the services they provide
Vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue are endemic, yet support is scarce
Caseloads of 20+ clients leave workers overwhelmed and under-resourced
The emotional labor of holding space for trauma while managing their own struggles
Despite these challenges, participants expressed deep commitment to their work. "We are here by choice," one participant said. "We love to help people. We love to be the ones who make a difference in people's lives, and we deserve to be treated with dignity, respect."
Embodied Practice
Being Well was designed as embodied practice rather than traditional training. Over two days, participants from 56 organizations engaged in 20 different healing-centered workshops, including stretch therapy, massage, grief empowerment, creative expression, and workplace culture sessions.
The programming addressed wellbeing holistically, recognizing that effective support requires attention to mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. Facilitators, many from the community themselves, created spaces for participants to process experiences, connect with their bodies, and envision new possibilities for their workplaces.
"Being Well felt like a long exhale—a rare space where we were held, not holding," reflected participant Nataly Hluz. "For once, we didn't have to tend to others, only to ourselves. And in that stillness, something softened."
Clear Impact on Participants
The results showed significant improvements in wellbeing and perspective:
93% of participants reported improved personal wellbeing (average increase of 2.3 points on a 5-point scale)
96% reported that the experience shifted their thinking about rest, care, and wellbeing in their work
63% reported more positive feelings about the homeless response sector
96% would attend a future Being Well gathering
Beyond the numbers, participants described meaningful changes in how they think about work and wellbeing:
"Being Well definitely shifted how I think about rest, care, and wellbeing in my work. It reminded me that rest is not something we have to earn—it's an essential part of sustaining ourselves... I now see rest and wellbeing as integral to how I show up for others, not separate from the work itself."
Another participant shared: "My thoughts shifted from feeling alone in this sector to being able to form a community of support and resources within our sector."
Envisioning Better Workplaces
A key goal of Being Well was creating a space for workers to imagine workspaces that better support frontline staff. Participants shared ideas for what truly supportive organizations could look like:
Reduced work weeks and manageable caseloads
Mandatory self-care time built into schedules
Living wages that allow workers to access the resources they help clients obtain
Trauma-informed policies that account for the human cost of the work
Workplaces that "look like play... breaks... time for conversation... peace... home... community"
As one participant put it: "I left with a clearer sense of how important it is to check in with myself regularly and build in simple practices that support regulation and balance. It’s changed how I think about self-care—not as something separate from the work, but as something that’s actually part of it."
Grounded in Community Wisdom
Being Well emphasized community-based approaches to healing and support. Facilitators were practitioners rooted in the same communities as participants, and the healing methods offered honored diverse cultural approaches to wellness.
"What stood out most was how intentional the experience felt— from the atmosphere to the sessions. It reminded me that wellness isn’t a luxury, it’s essential. I left feeling lighter, more grounded, and connected—not just to others, but to myself." - Licett G.
This approach recognizes that lasting change requires shifts in how we understand work, care, and community in homeless services.
A Replicable Model
Being Well demonstrates a practical approach to supporting frontline workers. Sponsored by Cedars Sinai and United Way of Greater LA, the gathering showed that investing in worker wellbeing produces measurable results.
The impact is already expanding. SJPLA is now working with four nonprofit homeless service organizations through a wellbeing cohort, bringing insights from Being Well into organizational culture change efforts.
"If our workforce is well, then the work is being done well," one participant observed. "If our workforce is thriving, then the work and the services that we provide are going to be above standard."
This investment benefits both workers and the people they serve. When frontline staff have support for their own wellbeing, they can provide better services to clients.
Looking Forward
Being Well showed that investing in frontline worker support produces meaningful results. The gathering offered participants both personal renewal and a practical vision for improving workplace culture across the homeless response sector.
Participants left with renewed energy; they experienced what comprehensive support looks like and gained concrete ideas for improving their own workplaces.
In a sector facing high turnover and worker burnout, Being Well offers a practical path forward. By creating conditions for frontline workers to be well, we create conditions for sustainable service delivery and stronger communities.
Supporting frontline workers strengthens the entire system of care for people experiencing homelessness.
Being Well was made possible through the generous support of Cedars Sinai and United Way of Greater LA.
