Shirley Raines, Beauty 2 The Streetz founder who helped Skid Row’s homeless, dies at 58

Shirley Raines, the nationally celebrated founder and CEO of Beauty to the Streetz, has died, the Southern California nonprofit announced Wednesday.

She was 58.

Beauty to the Streetz founder Shirley Raines dies

Raines, known widely as “Ms. Shirley,” spent years serving people experiencing homelessness on Los Angeles’ Skid Row and in communities across the country. Her death has sparked an outpouring of grief from supporters, volunteers and the thousands of people whose lives she touched.

“Ms. Shirley dedicated her life to serving others and made an immeasurable impact on homeless communities throughout Los Angeles and Nevada,” the nonprofit said in a statement. “Through her tireless advocacy, deep compassion, and unwavering commitment, she used her powerful media platform to amplify the voices of those in need and to bring dignity, resources, and hope to some of the most underserved populations.”

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Beauty to the Streetz: A Mission Rooted in Dignity and Consistency

For years, the Long Beach, CA resident offered beauty services, food, showers and other essentials to people living on Skid Row. She returned every Saturday, often saying that trust came from showing up week after week. Despite working full time and raising six children, she cooked 400 to 600 meals each week in her one‑bedroom apartment.

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Raines founded Beauty to the Streetz in 2017 after the loss of her son. What began as a small effort to provide dignity‑restoring services to women on Skid Row quickly grew into a full‑scale outreach program. She often said makeup and hair care offered a brief escape from the harsh realities of homelessness and helped people reconnect with their sense of self.

Her authenticity and lived experience, including surviving trauma, near‑homelessness and profound grief, helped her connect deeply with the people she served. Her work earned her national recognition as a CNN Hero, including the title of 2021 CNN Hero of the Year.

A Nonprofit Expanding Beyond Los Angeles

According to the organization and its GoFundMe page, Beauty to the Streetz has expanded far beyond its original footprint. The nonprofit now reaches people in San Diego, Sacramento and Las Vegas, in addition to its core Skid Row community.

The group said demand for services has grown rapidly. To meet that need, Beauty to the Streetz is preparing several new outreach tools, including:

• A mobile hair salon, currently in development
• A new food truck
• An ice cream truck planned for summer outreach

Supporters Turn to GoFundMe to Continue Her Work

In Ms. Shirley’s memory, donors have turned to one of the GoFundMe pages she created to sustain the organization’s work. Supporters are contributing in her honor, determined to keep her mission alive.

The fundraiser has raised more than $200,000.

Beauty to the Streetz asked the public to keep Raines’ family and the organization in their thoughts. “Further information will be shared as it becomes available,” the nonprofit said.

To learn more or support the fundraiser, please visit the official GoFundMe page.