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Housing is a policy problem, and students can help solve it.
Project HAVEN is a student-led initiative with three branches: direct service, education and advocacy. This blog is the education branch.
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About us
A student-led initiative at Flintridge Prep working on housing in Los Angeles.
Why we exist
Los Angeles has one of the largest homeless populations in the country, and the crisis is closely tied to rising rents, evictions and a shortage of affordable housing. Officials have acted, and it is not enough.
Many students at Prep live close to this issue or have seen it, but rarely understand the causes. Homelessness gets reduced to a stereotype instead of being understood as a housing and policy problem.
Prep already has meaningful service work in this area, such as Project WORTHY, which supports homeless youth through STEM education and mentorship. HAVEN fills a different gap: learning the systemic causes, serving adults and families through community partners, and practicing civic engagement.
Three branches
Direct service. We ask partner organizations what they need, then run volunteer events and drives around the answer.
Education and awareness. This blog, plus guest speakers and workshops on campus.
Advocacy and civic engagement. Learning how local housing policy works, connecting with advocacy groups, and doing outreach and text banking.
Our aim is a lasting, student-led structure that makes this work a habit and not a one-off.
The data behind the mission
House value and income figures: U.S. Census Bureau, via the LA Times. Other figures: Project HAVEN research notes, October 2026.
Members
The students who run Project HAVEN and write the articles.
Leadership is student-led, and one person cannot do it all. There are not many requirements: show up as often as you can. Tell us you want in.
Contact us
Submit an article, offer help, propose a partnership, or ask a question.
Writing for HAVEN
Student writers are welcome in every topic, and Urban Life & Wellbeing is wide open. Send a pitch with the topic and the question your article would answer.
Topics
Five areas of the housing issue. Each one has a summary and the articles that go with it.
Get involved
Organizations that work on housing, hunger and homelessness, and what they ask of teen volunteers.
"Contact org" means the requirement was not confirmed. Always check age limits, waivers and orientation with the organization before you sign up.
Media & insights
Updates, progress and the people and partners behind the work.
Progress toward May 2027
Updates
Coming up
Dates are proposed and may move with the school calendar.
Stories
Personal stories about housing, from the people who live it, will live here. If you have one to share, get in touch.
Donate
Most of what HAVEN collects is items, not money.
Item drives
We organize on-campus drives built around what partner organizations say they need. Donated materials are always used first.
Money
A small budget covers common supplies for events and drives. Online giving is not set up yet. If you would like to support HAVEN with a gift, email us and we will tell you how.