Chrysalis

Chrysalis is a Los Angeles based nonprofit dedicated to helping economically disadvantaged and homeless individuals become self-sufficient through employment opportunities. We provide critical employment services and job search resources at our centers based in Santa Monica, downtown Los Angeles, and the San Fernando Valley. Clients have access to a wide range of classes and services designed to improve job search skills, self-confidence and employability.

Chrysalis is always looking for friendly, outgoing volunteers to educate and empower our job-seeking clients! As a Chrysalis volunteer, you will have the unique opportunity to personally motivate our clients as they achieve their goals.

CLARE Foundation

CLARE Foundation is a nonprofit organization providing compassionate treatment and recovery services for alcoholism and substance abuse to individuals, families, and the community since 1970. Eleven residential and outpatient programs offer culturally sensitive English, Spanish, and gender-specific social services to a diverse population of men, women, children, the homeless, and those facing criminal prosecution for drug and alcohol offenses. CLARE’s programs include non-medical detoxification, primary recovery support, a long-term residential recovery program, sober living for individuals, and women with children as well as transitional, outpatient, and community-based family services. CLARE believes that recovery involves individual effort; the support of others; and a clean, secure, and sober environment. CLARE is committed to providing a comprehensive continuum of care to meet the needs of the whole person in recovery, regardless of ability to pay for services.

Imagine LA

Imagine LA is a non-profit organization whose vision is to mobilize the faith community to help make Los Angeles a city where no child sleeps on the street. Imagine LA’s efforts are focused on the Los Angeles County homeless family population, which is growing at an alarming rate – 35% in the last year alone.

Currently there are 8,000 homeless families with 18,000 children in Los Angeles. Remarkably, in Los Angeles there are also over 8,000 churches, synagogues and mosques. -{Just imagine if each family was matched with one of these faith-based organizations in such a way that helped the family permanently exit homelessness, achieve sustainable independence and the children to thrive.

New Directions, Inc.

New Directions, Inc. is a long-term licensed residential drug, alcohol and mental health treatment program for homeless veterans. We offer transitional housing in four facilities: the 156-bed Regional Opportunity Center on the V.A. campus; the 50-bed New Directions North for homeless veterans with severe and persistent co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders, also on the V.A. campus; two 8-bed homes for homeless women veterans and spouses or daughters of veterans; and a 6-bed house in the community specifically for Iraq and Afghanistan vets. The agency provides job training and placement, life skills, money management, anger management, parenting and family reintegration services, as well as permanent housing placement. New Directions involves volunteers in its special events activities and on its Board.

P.A.T.H.

PATH is a non-profit community organization that helps homeless people find work, save money, secure housing, and empower their lives. Initially an emergency food and clothing distribution program, PATH has since grown into a multi-facility organization that provides a wide range of coordinated services for homeless individuals throughout Southern California. PATH serves homeless clients in the following areas:
Emergency, Transitional and Affordable Housing; Outreach and Referrals; Educational and Employment Assistance; Health & Mental Health Services, and Supportive Social Services.

Phoenix House of Los Angeles, Inc.

Since 1979, Phoenix House has been a leading provider of residential substance abuse treatment in Southern California, now operating more than 20 residential and outpatient programs for adolescents and adults in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties. Fees are based on a sliding scale, and no client is denied treatment because of the inability to pay. It is the Mission of Phoenix House to: Reclaim disordered lives. Encourage individual responsibility, positive behavior and personal growth. Strengthen families and communities. Safeguard public health. Promote a drug-free society through prevention, treatment, education and training, research and advocacy. We support our mission by adhering to the concept of Self-help, sustaining excellence in programming and service delivery, seeking innovative solutions to emerging social problems, and honoring the dignity of the individual.

Westside Shelter & Hunger Coalition

The Westside Shelter & Hunger Coalition (WSHC) is an alliance of over 30 organizations, public agencies and faith communities committed to ending hunger and homelessness through service coordination, public education and advocacy. WSHC is a non-profit volunteer organization that operates under the administrative umbrella of Community Partners. We were founded in 1982 to serve the Westside of Los Angeles County, and are the oldest coalition in the county working on behalf of the homeless. Throughout our history, the WSHC has proven to be an effective tool in providing high-quality programs and services for those in need in our community. The efforts of the WSHC help coordinate all services on the Westside in order to provide a true continuum of service care for the community. Members work together to provide services that include initial intake and service referrals; showers, food and clothing; on-going case management; emergency, transitional and permanent housing; medical care; mental health treatment; HIV medical and social services; job training and placement; and substance abuse treatment. Member agencies have been instrumental in Santa Monica’s chronic homeless project, as well as continuing to advocate for low income and homeless people at the local, state and national levels. The Coalition asserts the importance of making clear statements that define the basic beliefs, values and parameters by which its leadership body will operate.

Access Center (originally known as the Drop-In Center)

Opened in 1963, the Access Center (originally known as the Drop-In Center) is the first point of entry for homeless individuals and families seeking assistance. In addition to providing basic and emergency services such as food, clothing and restroom facilities to approximately 275 people daily, the Access Center assists homeless men, women and children in developing individual plans to identify strengths and goals in order to return to a life of stability and self-sufficiency. The focus of our staff and volunteers is to help each person who enters our doors and empower them to move off the street and into permanent housing.

Companion Mental Health Center

At Campion, licensed therapists and closely supervised interns provide mental health services to residents in the community and clients at OPCC’s programs. Established in 1984, Campion’s clientele includes children and adults facing problems such as depression, anxiety and relationship challenges, as well as families facing poverty, mental illness and domestic violence. Campion provides clinical support, supervision and training to the staff at the other projects of OPCC to ensure that clients’ mental health needs are met and works with community agencies in order to reduce barriers to care for low and no income individuals and families.

Daybreak (Day Center & Shelter)

Founded in 1987, Daybreak is the only program on the Westside designed for homeless women suffering from long-term debilitating mental illness. Daybreak addresses the basic needs of mentally ill women facing homelessness and poverty by providing a safe and accepting environment where they can find dignity, support, and access to information and resources needed to stabilize their lives and move into permanent housing.

OPCC Housing

OPCC formally began its housing program with an allocation of 70 Shelter Plus Care housing vouchers from the City of Santa Monica Housing Authority in 1994 which launched OPCC as one of the first housing providers for homeless individuals with disabilities on the Westside of Los Angeles County.

Night Light

Night Light Youth Outreach Services was established in 1999 to serve the needs of runaway and homeless youth in the Santa Monica area. The program provides emergency services and resources to assist young people in getting off the streets and in establishing lives of self-sufficiency.
Night Light’s mission is to reach out to homeless youth living on the streets and to provide education and outreach services to those who are at risk of sexual exploitation and abuse.

Night Light staff travels by van to places where runaway and homeless youth congregate to establish trusting relationships and to provide the following services:

• Food, clothing, blankets and hygiene supplies
• Street-based case management and support
• Referrals and transport to medical services and mental health counseling
• Transport to emergency and transitional shelters

OPCC (formerly the Ocean Park Community Center)

OPCC, (formerly the Ocean Park Community Center), is a network of shelters and services for low-income and homeless youth, adults and families, battered women and their children and people living with mental illness. Founded in 1963, it is a community-supported organization in which staff, volunteers and clients work together with mutual respect to address the effects of poverty, abuse, neglect and discrimination.

Safe Haven

Safe Haven utilizes a “Housing First” community model to serve chronically homeless individuals living with co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorders, with 25 beds available and full day services for homeless people who are willing to come indoors on a trial basis or for a longer period. This gentle form of engagement, which does not require a commitment to services as a precondition for shelter, is accepted as a best practice by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and by homeless policy organizations throughout the nation. OPCC’s Safe Haven is the first shelter utilizing this model for chronically homeless people on the Westside of Los Angeles. Safe Haven understands that the mental health and addiction disorders of this population are lifelong, has high tolerance for relapses as part of recovery, and emphasizes the building of trusting relationships with staff and other clients. In its new facility at the OPCC Cloverfield Services Center, Safe Haven offers a full range of services and supportive activities during the day and evening.

Samoshel

SAMOSHEL became part of OPCC in September 2005. It was established in 1994 to provide homeless men and women an alternative to living on the streets and to help them obtain jobs and permanent housing. Samoshel provides emergency and transitional housing for 70 homeless adults. The program includes on-site case management, counseling, 12-step meetings, on site clinician for crisis intervention and therapy, legal assistance, housing referrals and employment assistance.

Shwashlock

SHWASHLOCK, an acronym for SHowers, WASHers and LOCKers, also joined the OPCC network in September 2005. Opened in 1993, it provides homeless people with access to restroom and shower facilities, as well as a place to store personal belongings while they are working or looking for work, and until they can find more stable housing. Shwashlock is a stepping stone for those waiting to get into a shelter or housing. The goal of this program is to help individuals meet their basic needs of personal hygiene, and overcome barriers that might prevent them from obtaining long-term employment and housing.

Sojourn Services for Battered Women and their Children

SOJOURN provides battered women and their children a safe space to regroup, rebuild, and reestablish their self-esteem and lives.
SOJOURN honors diversity, serving without discrimination clients of any class, culture, race, ethnicity, age, faith, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability or immigration status, including those who are traditionally underserved.
SOJOURN fosters solidarity among women and children, educates the community and society, and is committed to effecting political and social change through grassroots activism and a philosophy of individual empowerment.

Turning Point Transitional Housing

Established in 1983, Turning Point Transitional Housing is a 55-bed shelter for homeless men and women that offers housing and supportive services for up to 9 months. The project seeks to break the cycle of homelessness and to integrate homeless individuals back into the community by providing comprehensive, individualized services designed to address their physical and emotional needs.

In addition to an individual sleeping area, three meals a day and clothing, Turning Point provides intensive case management, counseling and support groups, specialized programs such as job counseling, money management, health education, computer classes and independent living skills.

Boys & Girls Club of Santa Monica

Be…Inspirational. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to providing youth a safe and productive place to go when they need it most: after school and non-school days

Our mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as caring, responsible and productive citizens.

In 1944, thirty Santa Monica civic leaders decided to open a Club for boys to provide positive alternatives and keep them off the streets. Thus, in 1946 they opened the Boys Club of Santa Monica. By 1958, the Founding Board Members raised enough funds to build and open the Club’s current facility on Lincoln Boulevard.

Since then, approximately 150,000 youth have participated in Club programs. On October 16, 1990, the Club announced that it would extend its services to include girls and became the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica.

In 1993, the Club expanded its services further by beginning school outreach programs, offering after school activities at school sites throughout Santa Monica. On June 10, 2009, SMBGC opened the JAMS Clubhouse a new state-of-the-art, standalone facility located on the John Adams Middle School campus.