New Hollywood Campus Planned To Serve Homeless Youth

HOLLYWOOD, CA — My Friend's Place, a Hollywood nonprofit serving young people experiencing homelessness, announced plans Wednesday for a new campus to house its programs and services.

The nonprofit said it has raised more than $11.3 million toward a $20 million capital campaign for the project, or more than 55% of its goal, as the campaign enters its public phase.

Subscribe

Singer Miley Cyrus, a longtime supporter of the organization, is serving as honorary chair of the campaign, according to the organization.

The new facility will replace the organization's current building and is being designed to provide services and resources for young people under one roof.

"This new campus is about creating a place where young people can feel safe, welcomed and supported from the moment they walk through the door," My Friend's Place Executive Director Heather Carmichael said in a statement. "For decades, My Friend's Place has been a place of connection and possibility for young people experiencing homelessness. This new home will allow us to build on that legacy while creating an environment designed for the future of our work."

Design plans and a construction budget are being finalized, with the organization anticipating all necessary approvals by December. A temporary relocation is planned for February 2027 so services can continue during construction, officials said.

Demolition of the existing building and construction of the new facility are expected to begin in April 2027, with completion projected for December 2028.

My Friend's Place said it has begun searching for a temporary location and intends to continue providing its programs throughout the relocation and construction.

Cyrus said she is urging supporters to help the organization reach its $20 million fundraising goal.

"I'm proud to call Hollywood my home. I remember over 12 years ago going to My Friend's Place for the first time after realizing how many young people around me didn't have a place to call their home," Cyrus said. "I have seen firsthand over so many years the impact that My Friend's Place really can make on these younger people. I often quote 'a dream you dream alone is just a dream, but together it is a reality'. We would be honored and amazed if you would join us in making this new My Friend's Place campus a reality."

My Friend's Place traces its beginnings to 1988, when co-founders Steve LePore and Craig Scholz began distributing sack lunches to homeless young people in Hollywood, according to the organization. The effort eventually developed into a resource center providing services including physical and mental health support, employment and education assistance and creative programs.

The organization said it now provides services to more than 1,300 homeless young people between the ages of 12 and 25, along with their children and animal companions, each year.

City News Service