Our mission: In partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, the Public Mental Health Partnership at UCLA aims to realize a vision for excellence in care for vulnerable populations that incorporates typically marginalized perspectives and builds capacity to foster health equity.
Visit our website for more information: pmhp.ucla.edu
Written by Kimberly Barrante; Narrated by Jonathan C. Fernandez; Artwork by Adrian Cruz; Produced by DMH + UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership
Sidewalk Stories is inspired by real-life relationships between an unhoused person and their mental health outreach provider on the Los Angeles County Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement team, known as HOME. Though identifying details have been changed, the heart of these stories remains intact. Their work is a beautiful reminder that by offering a helping hand, a listening ear, and leading with empathy, we can inspire hope and help others know that they are never alone.
20 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT
Sidewalk Stories: That's June
Written by Taylor Crawford; Narrated by Stephanie Y. Cole; Artwork by Adrian Cruz; Produced by DMH + UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership
Sidewalk Stories is inspired by real-life relationships between an unhoused person and their mental health outreach provider on the Los Angeles County Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement team, known as HOME. Though identifying details have been changed, the heart of these stories remains intact. Their work is a beautiful reminder that by offering a helping hand, a listening ear, and leading with empathy, we can inspire hope and help others know that they are never alone.
13 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT
Sidewalk Stories: Her Name is April
Warning: This episode includes discussion of suicide. If this topic is triggering for you, please consider skipping this episode. If you or someone you know is in crisis, in the US, please call or text 988 for immediate help. If outside the US, please reach out to your local crisis hotline.
Written by Ally Merkel; Narrated by Lydia Berger Gray; Artwork by Adrian Cruz; Produced by DMH + UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership
Sidewalk Stories is inspired by real-life relationships between an unhoused person and their mental health outreach provider on the Los Angeles County Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement team, known as HOME. Though identifying details have been changed, the heart of these stories remains intact. Their work is a beautiful reminder that by offering a helping hand, a listening ear, and leading with empathy, we can inspire hope and help others know that they are never alone.
Inside a recent episode
Sidewalk Stories: The Boat
Published 27 Jan 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] That was Ruth. Here in LA, areas are broken down into service areas. At the time, I was in service area 7, covering East LA. I was new to the program when Ruth was transferred to my caseload. Before that, she was already getting assistance with clothing and food. She even agreed to take medication for her depression and was on her way into getting permanent housing. Helping Ruth was a team effort between the Los Angeles homeless services authority, more informally known as LASA and homeless outreach and mobile engagement, known as home. As clinicians, our ultimate goal is to get our clients housed and bring them down to a lower level of care. […]
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