My Friend's Place

What My Friend's Place does

My Friend's Place is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit resource center founded in 1990 that supports young people ages 12-24 impacted by homelessness. It operates a single drop-in facility delivering three core programs: Safe Haven (immediate essentials such as meals, showers, clothing, hygiene supplies, phone/computer access, and animal companion care), Transformative Education (creative arts workshops, employment services, education support, field trips, and The Corner Collective, where young artists retain 100% of sales proceeds), and Housing & Wellness (case management, counseling, mental health services, medical and legal support, and parenting support). The organization explicitly serves youth with children and animal companions, lowering barriers relative to traditional shelters.

The organization does not operate a proprietary technology platform; service delivery is in-person via the drop-in center and off-site field trips, supported by licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) on staff. Resources are delivered at no cost to beneficiaries, and the organization has no pricing model or product revenue. Its revenue model is donation-driven, comprising individual donations (including a June matching gift campaign up to $100,000), corporate sponsorship and volunteer partnerships, in-kind contributions, and small-margin art sales through The Corner Collective that pass 100% to youth artists. Marketing is community- and event-led, relying on email, blog content, social media, Friend Fest, LA Marathon Team MFP, and corporate volunteer days.

The 2025 impact metrics disclose 1,245 youth visiting the drop-in center, 527 participating in the Transformative Education Program, 597 workshops offered, 209 young people obtaining employment, and 2,246 showers provided. The organization is supported by a partnership network including Everytable, Support+Feed, Monty's Good Burger, university research partners, and broader corporate and service-provider allies across Los Angeles County.

Name

My Friend's Place

Legal name

My Friend's Place

Website

https://myfriendsplace.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

My Friend's Place is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit drop-in center, founded in 1990, that provides free Safe Haven, Transformative Education, and Housing & Wellness services to young people ages 12-24 impacted by homelessness, including youth with children and animal companions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Homelessness Social Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Youth homelessness services
• Drop-in center
• Nonprofit social services
• Community resource center
• Creative arts employment

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring monetary donations from individual supporters. The organization runs matching gift campaigns where contributions up to $100,000 are matched by a generous partner during specific periods (June).
2. Corporate Partnerships: Sponsorship revenue from companies and local businesses that sponsor events, underwrite programs, or organize volunteer team impact days.
3. The Corner Collective Art Sales: Young people create and sell art, clothing, accessories, and homewares through The Corner Collective. Young artists receive 100% of sales proceeds.
4. Volunteer and Service Contributions: In-kind contributions through volunteer hours, item donations (clothing, hygiene supplies, essentials), and wish list fulfillment through Welcome Home Helpers program.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

My Friend's Place operates a drop-in center in Los Angeles that provides free essential services, creative arts and employment programs, and housing and wellness support to young people ages 12-24 impacted by homelessness. Programs include Safe Haven (meals, showers, clothing, hygiene, phone/computer access, animal companion care), Transformative Education (workshops, Employment Lab, The Corner Collective art sales), and Housing & Wellness (case management, counseling, mental health, medical, legal, parenting, and housing assistance).

Product overview

My Friend's Place is a nonprofit drop-in center offering a three-program service model for young people ages 12-24 impacted by homelessness: Safe Haven (immediate essential services), Transformative Education (creative arts, employment, and education support), and Housing & Wellness (holistic case management and housing assistance). The programs are unified by a trauma-informed, youth-centered approach that meets young people where they are and supports their self-determined goals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Safe Haven Drop-in day shelter providing immediate essential services for young people ages 12-24 impacted by homelessness, including meals, showers, clothing, hygiene supplies, phone/computer access, and animal companion care.
• Transformative Education
• Housing & Wellness
• The Corner Collective
• Employment Lab

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,245 young people visited the drop-in center
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• EverytableflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEverytable partnered with My Friend's Place alum Chef Shane Tavarez to create the 'My Friends Meal' - a holiday meal initiative. Chef Shane, who transitioned from My Friend's Place to the culinary world, works with Everytable's Chef Tim Reardon to prepare meaningful meals honoring community and tradition.
• Support+FeedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport+Feed is a nonprofit that works with local restaurants to provide healthier, ecologically responsible food to underserved populations. In celebration of their one-year anniversary, they arranged for Monty's Good Burger to deliver 150 plant-based burgers and milkshakes to My Friend's Place youth.
• Monty's Good BurgerminorOthersPlant-based burger restaurant that provided meals to young people at My Friend's Place through the Support+Feed partnership anniversary celebration.
• Service Provider PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative network of organizations addressing broad needs including mental and physical health, creative expression, education and employment, and housing. Partners work with My Friend's Place to bring resources and opportunities to youth.
• Research Partners (Universities and Research Organizations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic and research partnerships designed to deepen understanding of youth homelessness. Research is youth-centered with guiding principles protecting young people, honoring their voices, and providing fair compensation for participation.
• Corporate PartnerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCompanies and local businesses partner through event sponsorship, volunteer team impact days, special meal hosting, clothing drives, LA Marathon Team MFP participation, facility tours, and program underwriting.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities of Los Angeles: Catholic Charities of LA provides a broad portfolio of social services including housing, food, and youth programs across the region. Comparable as a broader LA incumbent in social services that overlaps with My Friend's Place's mission but operates at much larger scale and with broader service scope.
• National Safe Place: National Safe Place is a national youth safety network providing access to immediate help and safety for young people in crisis. Comparable as a broader-incumbent in the youth homelessness and crisis services space, with a national footprint well beyond My Friend's Place's single LA site.
• Covenant House International: Covenant House is the national parent organization for Covenant House California and operates shelter and supportive services across 30+ cities in the US, Canada, and Latin America. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the youth homelessness space with significantly larger scale and geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Jovenes Inc. Jovenes provides housing, education, and supportive services to homeless youth ages 18-25 in Los Angeles. Direct peer in mission, geography, and population served, with overlapping programs in case management, education, and employment readiness.
• Los Angeles Youth Network (LAYN): LAYN provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services for homeless youth ages 12-17 in LA. Direct peer serving the same age range and homeless-youth population with overlapping drop-in and shelter service models.
• PATH (People Assisting The Homeless): PATH operates housing, interim housing, and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness in LA County, including dedicated youth programs. Comparable as a LA-based nonprofit combining drop-in services, case management, and employment support for homeless populations.
• LA Family Housing (LAFH): LAFH provides housing, supportive services, and homelessness prevention across the San Fernando Valley. Comparable as a LA-based nonprofit combining drop-in services, case management, and housing placement, with overlap in employment and education support for vulnerable populations.
• Hope the Mission: Hope the Mission provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services across the San Fernando Valley and greater LA. Comparable as a regional LA nonprofit serving people experiencing homelessness with case management, meals, and basic needs services.
• Covenant House California: Covenant House California provides shelter, housing, and supportive services to youth experiencing homelessness in Hollywood and Oakland. Directly comparable as a youth-homelessness drop-in and residential service provider in California, with a similar trauma-informed, wraparound model serving ages 18-24.

Regional players

• StarHouse Foundation / StarHouse LA: StarHouse provides shelter, housing, and supportive services to youth experiencing homelessness in LA County. Comparable as a regional LA-focused youth homelessness service provider with similar programming and demographics served.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mfpla
• Facebookfacebook.com/mfphollywood
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/m-f-place-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about My Friend's Place