"Malikshabazz Owens, founder of the 501 c 3 nonprofit organization Welcoming Interim Shared Housing (WISH) aka Welcoming Initiatives for Social Health WISH has dedicated his life to helping the homeless, low-income population, and supporting communities in Los Angeles. Born in Harvey, IL, Malik experienced homelessness and financial instability firsthand for more than 50% of his life, moving frequently between 3 states, and experiencing mutual eviction with his family as a child due to his mother's mental health struggles. Despite these challenges, he persevered, attending Green Mountain College in Vermont, and later working in private security for the Japanese Ambassador while living in New York City, as well as mental health services , and other various professions. In 2014, he moved to LA and began working with homeless service providers, eventually starting WISH in 2020 to fill gaps in existing services. Through WISH, Malik provides tailored, compassionate support to empower individuals in need, including social initiatives like Project Vendigo, a project addressing food insecurity and essential needs for communities by way of 100% free vending machines. Driven by his personal experiences and passion to make a difference, Malik has committed himself fully to WISH, resigning from his full-time job to focus on his nonprofit and create lasting change in the lives of those struggling"
Welcomewish.org
ProjectVendigo.com
Instagram: WelcomingWish
