In a move that’s being hailed as one of the most generous acts by a late-night television host in recent memory, Jimmy Kimmel has quietly donated his entire $5 million in recent earnings — including bonuses and sponsorship deals — to fund the construction of multiple homeless support centers across Los Angeles. The initiative will provide 150 permanent housing units and 300 temporary shelter beds for individuals and families in need, addressing what Kimmel called “the most painful reality” of living in his hometown.
The Jimmy Kimmel Live! host made the announcement at a small press conference held outside a planned construction site in East Hollywood. With city officials and community organizers standing alongside him, Kimmel fought back emotion as he explained why he felt compelled to act now. “I’ve seen too many people here in Los Angeles struggling to survive cold nights without a roof over their heads,” he said. “This city has given me everything — my career, my friends, my family — and I promised myself that if I ever had the chance, I’d step up. No one should have to sleep outside in that kind of cold.”
For years, Kimmel has supported charitable causes behind the scenes, often donating anonymously to local organizations. But this new initiative marks a dramatic expansion of his commitment. The project, dubbed the Heart of Los Angeles Housing Initiative, will be operated in partnership with PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) and Habitat for Humanity Los Angeles. The first center, located just a few miles from Hollywood Boulevard, is expected to open in late 2026.
According to city housing officials, the centers will not only provide beds and shelter but also mental health counseling, addiction treatment, and job placement programs — key services aimed at helping residents transition to stable, long-term housing. Kimmel’s $5 million donation covers nearly half of the projected construction costs, with additional funding coming from local partners and matching donors inspired by his example.
The most poignant moment of the announcement came when Kimmel shared a personal story that few had heard before. He recalled driving home from a taping late one night and spotting a young family huddled together beneath an overpass just a few blocks from his studio. “It was freezing,” he said quietly. “There was a little girl holding her mom’s hand, wrapped in a blanket that barely covered her. I thought about my own kids — and I couldn’t get that image out of my head. That was the moment I knew I couldn’t keep just talking about it.”
Kimmel’s longtime friend and fellow host Jimmy Fallon publicly praised the move, tweeting, “That’s the real Jimmy Kimmel — a man with a huge heart. Proud of you, buddy.” Even some of Kimmel’s sharpest critics across the political spectrum commended his effort, calling it “a rare moment of humanity in Hollywood.”
During his remarks, Kimmel emphasized that the centers were not meant to “fix” homelessness overnight but to “restore hope” in a city too often divided by wealth and visibility. “The people living on these streets aren’t invisible,” he said. “They’re just ignored. If every person who’s ever made it here gave back even a fraction of what this city gave them, we could change the landscape of Los Angeles forever.”
At the end of the event, as volunteers and staff applauded, Kimmel stepped down from the podium and hugged one of the outreach workers who will help run the shelters. The moment drew quiet tears from those in attendance.
By the time he walked away from the microphones, reporters shouted questions about whether this marked a new phase in his public life. Kimmel only smiled and said, “No politics, no headlines — just people helping people. That’s the only show I want to host right now.”
The first groundbreaking is scheduled for December. If completed as planned, Kimmel’s initiative could shelter nearly 1,000 Angelenos in its first year, giving many what they’ve long been denied — not just a bed, but a chance.
