Homeless advocate on Skid Row

Shirley Raines, a Compton woman who dedicated her life to providing for homeless people and founded the nonprofit Beauty 2 the Streetz, has died, her organization announced.

- SUMMER LIN AND JOSEPH SERNA

COMPASSION AND COMMITMENT

Compton native Shirley Raines started the nonprofit Beauty 2 the Streetz, which provides unhoused people with hair coloring, makeup and mobile showers.

She was 58.“Ms. Shirley dedicated her life to serving others and made an immeasurable impact on homeless communities throughout Los Angeles and Nevada,” a message posted to Raines’ X account on Wednesday read. “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 undeserved populations.”

For years, Raines’ organization has served people experiencing homelessness across the region, providing them services such as hair coloring, makeup and mobile showers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the group handed out face masks, hand sanitizer, vitamins and more.

“They need to see a friendly face,” she told The Times in 2020. “They need to know they’re not forgotten.”