Ken Craft, founder and chief executive of the Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission, will be awarded the 2022 Stars of the Valley Humanitarian Award.Â
The Valley Economic alliance, which hosts the awards, announced his selection on Dec. 1, citing his extensive work combatting homelessness in the Valley region this year.
In February, Hope of the Valley launched its first tiny home village – the first in Los Angeles – and secured funding through the city for five additional villages. The affordable, interim-housing solution has since grown to include six villages across the county, including the Arroyo Seco community, which is currently the largest tiny home village in the country. With more than 900 new beds in tiny homes available for people experiencing homelessness, Hope of the Valley more than doubled the number of its available beds this year to address the humanitarian crisis of homelessness in the region.
“At Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission, the goal is to meet the needs of the whole person – spiritually, emotionally and physically,” Craft said in a statement. “Its mission is to attract people and resources to assist in the effort of meeting the needs of every hungry and homeless man, woman and child in our local area.”
“The Valley is fortunate to have many shining examples of leadership, innovation and community service, but no one outshines Ken Craft,” Sonya Blake, Valley Economic Alliance chief executive, said in a statement. “His bold development of tiny homes to address the needs of our unhoused neighbors is leading the state and the nation. We are proud to recognize that he has chosen the San Fernando Valley as his headquarters location and field of service and to honor him as a Star of the Valley.”
The Valley of the Stars Awards Gala will take place April 8 in Burbank. Previous Valley of the Stars Humanitarian Award honorees include David Fleming, Rickey Gelb, Dana and David Pump, and Mel Wilson.