Homelessness in the Valley / Surviving Day by Day : Valley Homeless : Escalating Numbers

According to statistics compiled by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services, the State of California Department of Social Services and the Los Angeles Mobile Ombudsman Program:

On any given night in LA County, there are between 43,233 and 77,143 people who are homeless

On any given night in LA County, there are around 15,117 homeless family members, 10,738 of which are children

Contributing Circumstances

Last year, out of 136 families that lived at The Trud and Norman Louis Valley Shelter:

30 lost jobs immediately prior to becoming homeless

29 were unable to find employement

96 on some kind of public assistance

37 formally evicted

12 victims of domestic violence

2 from out of the city

6 from out of state

HOW CAN I HELP?

LOAVES AND FISHES

21600 Hart St., Canoga Park 91303; 340-2050

511 Kalisher St., San Fernando 91340; 365-3195

4322 San Fernando Rd., Glendale 91205; 956-1857

14525 Delano St., 102, Van Nuys 91411; 997-0943

A non-profit, independent organization with strong links to the Catholic church. Provides food, clothing, case management, rental assistance and short-term motel shelter.

Donations: Non-perishable foods, clothing and money to be dropped off at one of the four locations.

Volunteer help: Preparing bags of foods, stocking shelves, sorting through clothes, interviewing clients for application to check for eligibility and referring them to other agencies and services.

*M.E.N.D.

13460 Van Nuys Blvd., Pacoima 91331; 896-0246

Helps homeless and low-income persons.

Donations: Non-perishable foods, clothing, toiletries, blankets, bottled water and money.

Volunteer help: Sorting donated items, packing food boxes, distributing food and clothing and interviewing clients. (contact: Maria Franco)

*The Trudy and Norman Louis Valley Shelter 7843 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood 91605; 765-0442

Provides emergency, transistional and permanent housing for families. Facilities include one classroom and a free medical clinic.

Donations: All foods, new toys, used computers, furniture, appliances, plates, pots, pans and money.

Volunteer help: Assisting teacher in tutoring, clerical help, answering telephones, preparing, serving, cleaning in the cafeteria and sorting donated items.

*The Church On the Way

14300 Sherman Way, Van Nuys 91405; 779-8000

A homeless outreach program operating out of The Church on the Way, but soon to be a seperate, non-religiously organization. Currently trying to establish a center with a clinic which is equipped with showers.

Donations: Money, food, and clothing.

Volunteer help: Physicians needed to volunteer their time, and people interested in networking with other orgnazations to best serve the needs of the homeless.

*BURBANK TEMPORARY AID SHELTER

1304 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank 91506; 846-2330

Serves the homeless and needy in the Burbank area.

Donations: Food, funds for lodging, clothing.

Volunteer help: Needs help in their its pantry and working directly with clients. Especially encourages senior citizens to volunteer their time.

*TARZANA TREATMENT CENTER

18846 Oxnard St., Tarzana 91356; 996-1051

An alcohol and drug treatment center that particpates in some outreach programs for the homeless.

Donations: Money, tools, office supplies and equipment (ask for donations division)

*INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER

14354 Haynes Street, Van Nuys 91401; 785-6934

Works with disabled adults to help them live independently. Much of the homeless population is made up of disabled people.

Donations: Food, especially non-perishable items

Volunteer help: Needs people to be on the look-out for cheap housing, to repair broken items, as well as people skilled in crisis counselling and to function as big brothers or sisters.

*SAN FERNANDO VALLEY COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER Cornerstone: 6728 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys 91405;901-4830

The Harbour: 15301 Lanark St., Panorama City 91402

The Harbour and Cornerstone are programs of the mental health center dedicated to helping out mentally ill men who are homeless.

Donations: All types of foods, boxed drinks, clothing such as sweatshirts, jeans and tennis shoes, blankets and umbrellas.

Volunteer help: People to come share their talents--music, drawing or sewing--for a couple of hours a week and help answering phones.

*UNITED WAY

6851 Lennox Avenue, Van Nuys 91405; 908-5000

Offers an organized way for people to give money to non-profit organizations in the community.

Donations: Relies mostly on monetary contributions.

Volunteers: Clerical tasks and also people to serve on a long-term basis on decision-making teams.

*SALVATION ARMY

14917 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys 91411; 781-5739

Provides meals to homeless and needy through its soup kitchen and vans.

Donations: Needs especially food but also takes money.

Volunteer help: Distributing soup and sandwiches by van and clean-up at the kitchen.

*WOMEN’S CARE COTTAGE

P.O. Box 451, Van Nuys 91408; 786-7830

Shelter for homeless women and children

Donations: Food, clothing, household items like plates, pans and linens

Volunteer help: Work one day a week to provide meal services, distribute clothing, collect donations and interact with clients.

*VALLEY MAYOR’S FUND FOR THE HOMELESS

5323 Leghorn Ave., Sherman Oaks 91401; 784-4357

A volunteer referral service that was involved in printing the homeless help cards.

Donations: Takes monetary donations but prefers people particpate in their many fundraisers.

*SEPULVEDA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

15435 Rayen St., North Hills 91343; 892-1164

This church provides breakfast and showers three mornings a week to the homeless from 8 to 9 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Any spare food is left on a self-help counter.

Donations: Towels, shampoo, soap, razors, tooth brushes and paste, pancake mix, coffee, tang, sugar and other breakfast foods.

Volunteer help: Anyone interested should show up at 7 a.m. at the kitchen door and you will be put to work.

*SAN FERNANDO VALLEY INTERFAITH COUNCIL

10824 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Chatsworth 91311; 718-6460

Coordinates congregations throughout the valley to provide shelter for homeless in chruch santuaries and offers meals, counselling and referrals.

Donations: Food and money

Volunteer help: Coordinating sanctuary shelters, information referrals, preparing meals and outreach to homeless seniors.

*EL CENTRO DE AMNISTAD

7024 Deering Street, Canoga Park 91305; 347-8565

Offers referrals to shelters, counselling and food/clothing bank.

Donations: Food (especially fruit and vegetables) and money

Volunteer help: Answering phones (bilingual people especially useful), opeating computers and working with youths.

*BETTER VALLEY SERVICES

8000 Laurel Canyon Blvd., North Hollywood 91605; 767-1128 Provides food and supplies to the homeless and features one of the only services for placing homeless persons with pets in shelters.

Donations: Money, non-perishable foods, cleaning supplues, office equipment, towels, linens, blankets and bottled water.

Volunteer help: Office work, outreach to homeless, picking up donations and researching referrals.

*PROYECTO ESPERANZA 10264 Rincon Ave., Pacoima 91331; 834-2214

One of two homes in the Los Angeles area that specifically targets young Latino men who are homeless. These men are taught job skills during their three month stay.

Donations: Food, games, radios, alarm clocks, tools, furniture, blankets, bedsheets, towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste and juice.

Volunteer help: Teaching English and spending time talking with the men. Volunteers do not need to speak Spanish.

*UNIVERSAL RESCUE MISSION 623 1/2 Brand St., Glendale 91204; 548-8915

Features an outreach program for the homeless referred to it by other organizations and finds shelter for them and helps in job search process. Donations: Money, clothing, non-perishable foods and periodically furniture.

Volunteer help: Call the mission to be put on a list for help doing special projects like distributing food at local parks.