From Streets to Stability: Erika Hartman on Youth Housing Pathways

In this urgent and hope-filled episode of And Now Love, Cynthia Marks speaks with Erika Hartman, CEO of Safe Place for Youth (SPY), about the realities of youth homelessness in Los Angeles and what actually helps young people stabilize. Erika explains that around 3,000 young people experience homelessness on any given night in LA—many of them unsheltered and exposed to exploitation and danger. She shares a core truth: youth homelessness often begins with the absence of loving, supportive adults, including youth aging out of child welfare and LGBTQ+ youth rejected at home. Together they explore why “bootstraps” thinking fails—without safety, showers, sleep, and a place to store belongings, it’s nearly impossible to get a job or keep appointments. Erika walks through SPY’s wraparound model, from street outreach and drop-in services to emergency shelter and transitional housing, plus trauma-informed healing arts that build trust before therapy ever begins. The conversation also tackles policy: how systems can criminalize exploited minors, why youth funding set-asides matter, and why prevention is the only way to stop adult homelessness from growing. Ultimately, Erika’s message is clear—young people are resilient, and when we show up consistently with care, they can recalibrate, rebuild, and thrive.