We are proud to share with our Brilliant Corners community the advocacy efforts our External Affairs team engaged in during the Spring and Summer seasons.
Brilliant Corners Joins Call to Reject Cuts to CalAIM Community Supports
Brilliant Corners joined nearly 40 homeless service and community organizations, including Housing California, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, and the Bring California Home coalition, to issue a letter urging the Senate and Assembly to reject proposed changes to CalAIM Community Supports in the Governor’s May Revise proposal. The proposed cuts included utilization management limitations for CalAIM Community Supports and would impact Housing Tenancy and Sustaining Services (HTSS). Housing-related services have helped over 75,000 marginalized Californians experiencing or at risk of homelessness, many with co-occurring disabilities, improve their health, while decreasing their inpatient hospitalizations and emergency department visits. The letter urged the legislature to delay changes to housing-related Community Supports and require DHCS to provide a cost estimate per each impacted community support to provide a more complete understanding of the impacts of the proposed changes.
Re-Imagine LA Advocacy Day
In June, Kayana Tyson, External Affairs Associate, joined advocates from across LA County for a lobby day organized by Re-imagine LA, a coalition of advocates, community organizations and neighbors working towards care-first community investments. Throughout the day, the group met with staff members from every office of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and participated in policy dialogues centered on several important county matters, from safeguarding Measure J funding and promoting a care-first approach for our community, to advocating for equitable and community-centered budget priorities. The lobby day served as an opportunity to directly engage decision-makers and push for systemic changes aligned with community justice and public health goals.
Voices of Change Event
Brilliant Corners joined the Los Angeles Regional Reentry Partnership (LARRP) and Californians for Safety and Justice (CSJ) for Voices of Change, a community event at the California Endowment that brought together more than 200 attendees to discuss reentry, civic engagement, housing, and community safety. The day featured a keynote conversation on justice reform with LA County Justice, Care and Opportunities Director Judge Songhai Armstead, LA County Public Defender Ricardo García, and Brilliant Corners Director of External Affairs Jose Osuna. Additional panels highlighted strategies for successful reentry, including “Your Vote, Your Power: Civic Engagement 101,” featuring Brilliant Corners External Affairs Associate Kayana Tyson alongside local leaders and advocates focused on expanding civic participation and opportunities for justice-impacted individuals.
Throughout the event, housing emerged as the central theme and a critical foundation for successful reentry. Speakers emphasized that stable housing supports employment, family reunification, recovery, and long-term community stability. Attendees also participated in discussions on public safety, heard directly from candidates for public office about housing and reentry priorities, and listened to a powerful testimony from Breaking Barriers participant Nicolas, who shared how housing provided the stability he needed to pursue recovery, education, and leadership opportunities.
Greater LA Coalition on Homelessness
Kayana Tyson attended the September Greater LA Coalition on Homelessness (GLACH) meeting, where Sarah Mahin, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Homeless Services and Housing (HSH) engaged providers in a discussion focused on key homelessness funding and service priorities. Sarah provided introductory remarks and answered provider questions regarding both the FY27-28 Measure A spending plan and the FY26-27 supplemental budget adjustments.
The meeting also included planned discussions representing several provider service areas, including adults, families, transition age youth, domestic violence/gender-based violence, case management, and supportive housing. Providers were encouraged to identify areas where HSH has been effective while also presenting recommendations for improvements and funding priorities. The session provided an opportunity for stakeholders to seek clarification on budget decisions, advocate for service restorations, and discuss strategies to address anticipated funding shortfalls in the coming fiscal year.