PPTFH to Phase Out Fiscal, Outreach Engagement Operations

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

After “thoughtful consideration,” Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness recently announced its decision to “restructure and reposition,” phasing out its fiscal operations by Thursday, June 1, and outreach engagement operations by December 31.

“Now is the optimal time for us,” Co-Presidents Sharon Browning and Sharon Kilbride said to the Palisadian-Post.

PPTFH was launched in October 2014 as an independent group of community members who were dedicated to addressing homelessness in the Palisades. Browning explained the Task Force would reevaluate its mission every three years, asking themselves: “Are we accomplishing our missions?”

In 2021, Browning said trends began to shift, and housing vouchers that were previously available through the city and county were no longer available, hindering individuals from being housed immediately.

Additionally, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteers began to withdraw and have—since—not come back in the same amount or level of commitment as years prior.

“We were not able to house people, which is an important part of our mission,” Browning said. “And in 2021, in the middle of COVID, our volunteers were going into isolation … so we managed as best as we could with our board members and volunteers who felt comfortable continuing to do the work … We pivoted and did the best we could.

“When we designed the project back in 2014, the world was one way and the resources were one way. Now that we are here and the world is different, any good organization looks at all those factors and how they can address their mission, reshape their mission or serve their population [and] mission the best … for those reasons, the board has decided to restructure and reposition.”

Part of PPTFH’s restructuring will be the dissolving of its 510(c)(3), and, per its original agreement with The People Concern, the remaining funds will be transferred to The People Concern—who will step in and provide its outreach services to the Palisades, as long as sufficient funds are available.

When the transfer occurs, PPTFH will no longer accept donations. Browning said she expects the transfer to be done between May and June. All future contributions would be made directly to The People Concern.

What else can Palisadians expect June 1? Browning said there will no longer be regular community webinars, and PPTFH will scale back on its newsletter. She said the website will be maintained through December 31, in case individuals seek additional assistance or information.

Browning and Kilbride will remain on the team through the end of the year and will continue working with their current team of volunteers. Kilbride said the volunteer response team is comprised of 12 “dedicated and committed” members who will stay on board into 2024. New volunteers are actively being recruited.

“It is time for both Sharon Kilbride and myself to rotate off,” Browning said. “We have extended our term commitments that we made to the organization because of the need, but we think that it is time to rethink the organization that we have and position it for the world we have today.

“We have sufficient funding … which allows our community and everybody to adjust. Our goal is to thoughtfully restructure and position this community with an outstanding outreach team, supported by committed volunteers who will position it for the future … we are excited and proud to be able to hand this package to the community.”

For more information, visit palisadeshomeless.org.