Homeboy Industries

www.homeboy-industries.org

Intervention; Ages 12–24

Risk Factors

Individual

Exposure to firearm violence

Few social ties (involved in social activities, popularity)

High alcohol/drug use

High drug dealing

Illegal gun ownership/carrying

Physical violence/aggression

Violent victimization

Family

Delinquent/gang-involved siblings

Family history of problem behavior/criminal involvement

Family poverty/low family socioeconomic status

Family violence (child maltreatment, partner violence, conflict)

Living in a small house

Poor parental supervision (control, monitoring, and child management)

School

Frequent truancy/absences/suspensions; expelled from school; dropping out of school

Low school attachment/bonding/motivation/commitment to school

Poor school attitude/performance; academic failure

Poorly organized and functioning schools/inadequate school climate/negative labeling by teachers

Community

Availability and use of drugs in the neighborhood

Availability of firearms

Community disorganization

Economic deprivation/poverty/residence in a disadvantaged neighborhood

Exposure to violence and racial prejudice

Feeling unsafe in the neighborhood

High-crime neighborhood

Neighborhood physical disorder

Neighborhood youth in trouble

Peer

Association with antisocial/aggressive/delinquent peers; high peer delinquency

Association with gang-involved peers/relatives

Gang membership

Peer alcohol/drug use

Description

In 2009, Homeboy Industries celebrated its twentieth anniversary as an organization in new headquarters located in downtown Los Angeles, California. It began with the Jobs for a Future program, an employment referral center that provides and seeks gainful employment for at-risk youth in the Boyle Heights community of Los Angeles. Homeboy Industries was established by Father Gregory Boyle, S.J., and has evolved into a model program of gang intervention services for inner-city youth, offering alternatives to gang violence in one of the toughest areas in the city.

Homeboy’s businesses now include the Homeboy Bakery; Homeboy Silkscreen, which prints logos on apparel and provides embroidery services; Homeboy Maintenance, which provides landscaping and maintenance services; Homeboy Merchandise, which sells T-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and mouse pads with the Homeboy logo; and Homegirl Café, which provides a training ground dedicated to female clients in all aspects of the restaurant and service industry.

Endorsements

National Gang Center: Effective program structure

Contact

Homeboy Industries
130 West Bruno Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (323) 526-1254
Fax: (323) 526-1257
E-mail: info@homeboy-industries.org

References

Fremon, C. (1995). Father Greg and the Homeboys. New York: Hyperion.

Gaouette, N. (1997, September 15). “Hope Rises at Homeboy Bakeries in L.A.” Christian Science Monitor, pp. 1–3.

The Homeboy Review is published annually.
The Homeboy Press
130 West Bruno Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012