FOUNDER, LA ON CLOUD9: Claudia Perez’s commitment to helping people who are experiencing homelessness and poverty comes from a deeply personal journey. Having herself experienced homelessness and drug addiction, she knows first-hand what it feels like to reach the bottom levels of despair, almost losing her children to social services. She understands what it takes to help people in those circumstances, and founded LA on Cloud9 in 2012, from the core belief that every single person is worthy of dignity, respect, and another chance.
HOUSING WORKS: Rudy Salinas formally a Program Director at Housing Works (as featured in the film), is now the Chief Program Officer at The Center at Blessed Sacrament. Salinas has worked with the poor and people experiencing homelessness since 1998 and has led community outreach teams at People Assisting Homeless, the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority, and Project Achieve.
MONDAY NIGHT MISSION: Mel Tillekeratne is the Founder of Monday Night Mission and Shower of Hope. After a wrong turn on his route home, Mel found himself driving through the streets most heavily populated by LA’s homeless. Immediately struck by the reality of such a wealthy city having a homelessness crisis of that scale, Mel felt compelled to do something. Far from being someone who looks the other way, Mel founded Monday Night Mission and the Shower of Hope.