Local 'Dedicated' Advocate For Homeless: Venice Hero

VENICE, CA — When times are tough, heroes emerge. We all know someone who's making a difference right now as we live through unprecedented times. Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these everyday heroes.

This submission comes from Sheila Harper of Venice, who nominated Matt Fisher:

Where the nominee lives:
Venice

Where the person who nominated the hero lives:
Venice

Name of the nominee:
Matt Fisher

Name of the person who nominated the hero:
Sheila Harper

Is the nominee considered an “essential worker”?:
Yes

What does the nominee do for work?:
Homeless advocate and outreach

Why do you believe the nominee should be recognized or honored?
Matt has dedicated over 10 years helping around Venice with homelessness issues and has been very active with advocacy and outreach in the past few years, including working with local service resistant people and talking them to bridge housing. Matt has helped tirelessly through the pandemic feeding people daily and getting people, doctor visits, hotel rooms and stimulus checks. He spends 7 days a week out around encampments and the sanitation cleanings, trying to advise the city on how to better them and building relationships between everyone to avoid conflicts. He continually challenges our politicians and fights to help everyone with or without a home, and does it for free.

What’s one thing you want everyone to know about your hero?:
Matt was homeless half of his life after running away from abusive foster care and now works to make sure no one else has to do the same.

Thank you for all you do, Matt!

>> Do YOU have a local hero you would like us to know about? Share their story here.

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