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Activist Shirley Raines, Known for Helping Homeless on Skid Row, Dies at 58
Raines founded the nonprofit Beauty 2 The Streetz, which distributed food, hygiene products and other resources to the homeless community in Los Angeles.
Jan. 28, 2026 at 1:15pm
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Shirley Raines, a 58-year-old activist known for her work helping the homeless community on Skid Row in Los Angeles, has died. Raines founded the nonprofit Beauty 2 The Streetz, which distributed food, hygiene products, and other resources to those in need, and she was well-known on social media for sharing videos of her work.
Why it matters
Raines' activism and compassion brought much-needed attention and aid to the large homeless population in Skid Row, one of the largest such communities in the United States. Her work highlighted the humanity of those experiencing homelessness and the importance of providing basic resources and dignity to underserved populations.
The details
Raines, a mother of six based in Long Beach, California, founded Beauty 2 The Streetz to distribute food, hygiene products, and other essentials to the homeless community in Skid Row. She was known for offering makeovers to women experiencing homelessness, aiming to change the public's perception of homelessness. Raines' work became even more essential during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she helped distribute free hand sanitizer and face masks.
- Raines founded Beauty 2 The Streetz to help the homeless community in Skid Row.
- Raines passed away on January 28, 2026.
The players
Shirley Raines
The 58-year-old activist and founder of the nonprofit Beauty 2 The Streetz, which distributed resources to the homeless community in Skid Row, Los Angeles.
Beauty 2 The Streetz
The nonprofit organization founded by Shirley Raines to provide food, hygiene products, and other resources to the homeless community in Skid Row.
What they’re saying
“This loss is devastating to the entire Beauty 2 The Streetz team, the communities we serve, and the countless individuals whose lives were forever changed by Ms. Shirley's love, generosity, and selfless service.”
— Beauty 2 The Streetz, Organization (Instagram)
“One of the things I wanted to do was change the face of homelessness, and I thought I was going to do that through hair and all these things. But I soon understood we needed to change the narrative of what 'homeless' means. Just because they're without a home does not mean they're without love. They are homeless, but a lot of them are not jobless. A lot of them are not kidless, phoneless or familyless. There are many levels of poverty as there are many levels of wealth.”
— Shirley Raines, Founder, Beauty 2 The Streetz (PEOPLE)
The takeaway
Shirley Raines' compassionate and tireless work to support the homeless community on Skid Row highlighted the humanity of those experiencing homelessness and the importance of providing basic resources and dignity to underserved populations. Her legacy will continue to inspire others to make a difference in their communities.
