PATHWAYS HOME

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Pathways Home is our first and flagship demographic group and core focus at ANEA, applying our 4WARDSTEPS program directly to the urgent humanitarian crisis of homelessness, instability, and displacement in Los Angeles and beyond. This demographic is a priority of ours and we offer them mental health care, wellness resources, and crisis recovery support.

We believe healing the mind is central to breaking the cycle of instability and displacement. From emergency support to trauma counseling, job readiness, and long-term resilience pathways, we meet individuals wherever they are in their journey.

Who We Help

We serve a wide spectrum of individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness, emerging from unstable systems like foster care, and several other circumstances and situations.

People experiencing housing instability and displacement are individuals whose mental health and well-being are compromised by loss of safe housing, family or community support, economic stability, or protection, placing them at risk of homelessness, chronic trauma, and long-term instability.

Under one demographic, we transparently serve:

1. Unhoused Individuals

·  Living on the streets, in vehicles, or encampments

·  Staying in shelters or transitional housing or system-supported but still unhoused: including individuals in government or nonprofit programs but still lacking stable housing and mental health care.

2. At-Risk of Homelessness

·  Facing eviction or financial collapse 

·  Couch-surfing or doubled-up housing

·  Exiting institutions (hospitals, foster care, incarceration)

·  Recently Unhoused (Now Housed): Individuals who have secured housing but need ongoing support to prevent relapse into homelessness.

3. Displaced Youth & Young Adults (12–25)

Young people whose mental health is compromised by housing instability, family disruption, community violence, identity-based harm, or system involvement, places them at high risk of homelessness, exploitation, incarceration, or lifelong instability.

We serve youth experiencing one or more of the following humanitarian disruptions:

• Housing & Family Displacement: Youth currently unhoused or couch-surfing, Foster care or aging-out youth, Youth exiting family rejection (especially LGBTQ+), Youth in motels, shelters, doubled-up housing
• Community & Safety Displacement: Exposure to gun violence, Chronic neighborhood trauma, drugs, addictions, School lockdowns, fear cycles, hypervigilance, Loss of safe spaces (schools, community centers, homes
• Identity-Based & Social Displacement: LGBTQ+ youth experiencing rejection or concealment stress, Youth navigating immigration status fear within families, Youth isolated due to stigma, bullying, or discrimination
• System-Impacted Youth: Youth involved in juvenile justice, Youth exiting inpatient, group homes, or residential care, Youth returning to school after suspension, expulsion, or dropout

“The Crisis of Instability”

When people lose safety, continuity, or belonging, mental health deteriorates rapidly, and without early intervention, instability becomes permanent.

Homeless Adults = downstream humanitarian crisis

Displaced Youth = upstream prevention of the same crisis

“Most adults experiencing homelessness were once displaced youth who never received mental health stabilization when it mattered most.”

How It Works: The 4WARDSTEPS Program Applied

> Intake & Assessment

• Every participant is paired with a Wellness Coordinator.
• Intake determines whether they begin with Phase 1 (Stabilization) or move directly into Phases 2–3 if already stabilized through other systems.

> Phase 1 – Stabilization 

Survival & Safety (Emergency Support) (applied if needed)

• For those in immediate crisis with no support system.
• Services include: cash aid, temporary shelter placement, medically tailored meals, hygiene kits, various survival resources, safety planning, emotional first aid
• Stabilization is the first step before deeper healing.

> Phase 2 – Mental Health & Healing

Direct Mental Health Services (core of program)

• One-on-one and group trauma-informed services: Counseling, group therapy, peer circles.
• Trauma-informed creative therapies: art, music, dance, gardening.
• Play therapy for children.
• Advanced interventions: EMDR (70% PTSD reduction), TMS (77% clinical response).
• Psychiatric support and medication management.
• Crisis Navigation 

> Phase 3 – Thrive 

Support & Resources (Wellness, Resilience, Community)

• Long-term stabilization with holistic services.
• Workshops on healing, emotional intelligence, and resilience.
• Yoga, meditation, and fitness (reduce anxiety by 40%).
• Therapeutic recreation and animal-assisted therapy (boosts adherence by 25%).
• Social/community connection opportunities.
• 24/7 crisis communication support (hotline, text, response teams)
• Life skills, Re-Anchoring, Emotional regulation
• Support and Resources
• School/work reintegration + job readiness, education, employment pathways.