Shira Gratch is a fourth-year Sociology major and Community Engagement and Social Change minor. Her research focuses on homeless service organizations in Los Angeles (LA) County and how they manage constraints and navigate obstacles to meet their aims and provide support. The growing number of people experiencing homelessness in LA County increases the demand for support services. Although county-level policies attempt to address associated factors and social disparities contributing to homelessness rates, rapidly changing and conflictual city ordinances exhaust resources and inhibit effective practice. By understanding our community’s specific challenges to assist this population, Shira hopes her research can reveal incongruities between policy and practice to determine constructive solutions. Moreover, bringing awareness and advocating for improvements can facilitate LA County’s collective ability to support community members experiencing homelessness. After completing her undergraduate studies, Shira plans to pursue a Master of Social Welfare, emphasizing social policy and community advocacy, and, as a social worker, join the collective effort to end homelessness.
