| Mission Statement
The mission of Venice Community Housing is to preserve the economic, racial and social diversity of Venice and the surrounding area by maximizing affordable housing and economic development opportunities and providing needed social services to the area's low-income population.
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Fast Fact
National Public Radio's Morning Edition recently reported: "On any given night, more than 600,000 people are homeless in the U.S. By some estimates about a third are 47 or older ... And this group is growing." The full story can be accessed here. |
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Faces of Venice
Community Housing
As Director of Programs I oversee Venice Community Housing's resident services, transitional housing, after school and youth development programs. On a daily basis my work ranges from serving the clients that walk into our office to advocating for effective policies to address homelessness as a board member of the Westside Shelter and Hunger Coalition. I love the fact that every day I get to work alongside people who are committed to making our community a better place. When I'm not working I enjoy surfing, hiking, going to museums and doing just about anything with my wonderful wife and my dog.
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Lend a Helping Hand!
Contribute to our Helping Hands Fund Campaign and help us transform the lives of homeless and low-income people.
Every dollar counts!
For more information click here. Click here to donate now! |
Contribute to Venice YouthBuild's sock drive!
Venice YouthBuild students are organizing a collection of socks and other winter clothing for the local homeless population. They need your help!
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From linens to laptops, Venice Community Housing is always seeking donations for our residents and programs. Please visit our online wish list to see if you can meet any of our current needs!
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Dear Friends,
Each of Venice Community Housing's achievements is the result of the strength of our ties to the community. Every homeless individual housed, every family that achieves economic stability, every YouthBuild student that enters a positive career path, is the product of the support of individuals, businesses and partner agencies.
Earlier this month we celebrated many of those supporters at our annual donor appreciation event, but we realize that so many others deserve our sincere gratitude.
Read on for more details from the event as well as our latest program developments!
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VCH hosts annual Donor Appreciation event
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Homeless storage pilot program concludes for winter 2013
Venice Community Housing's pilot program offering free storage to homeless individuals and families concluded March 1st with the scheduled end of the City's winter shelter program. Since late January "Check-In Storage Venice" offered secure storage of personal property to unhoused people who wished to go to the City's winter shelter in West LA but had too many belongings to take with them to the facility. The storage facility was open daily from 3-5 p.m. and staffed entirely by volunteers. VCH Board Member and "Volunteer" Volunteer Coordinator, Barbara Milliken, recorded a brief interview with one client who utilized the Check-In Storage Program. Click below to view!  | |
Benefits of Venice Check-In Storage Program
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The program was a partnership between VCH, the City of LA, and Council District 11, and was made possible with the support of the Venice Family Clinic, Occupy Venice and committed volunteers.
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Resident Services launches donation center, shopping days for residents in need
In February VCH's Resident Services Department created a small donation center at our administrative site to organize the donations we receive and to ensure they are distributed to those who need them the most.  Every third Friday of the month Resident Services will host a "Shop Day" when VCH tenants and community members in need can schedule visits to the donation center to select from the available clothing, food, toiletries and home goods. "On February 15th we had our first Shop Day and distributed nearly all of our recent donations," said Resident Services Director Bridgett Bell. "Although successfully housed, some of our newer tenants are still challenged with meeting the everyday needs that accompany being housed.The donation center allows them to get items they need to support themselves and their families and make their new homes feel more like home."
The center also serves individuals who are currently homeless.
Currently the greatest need is for the following items: - Children's and men's clothing (clean and in good condition)
- Non-perishable food items (especially high-protein foods such as beans, canned fishes and meats, and nut butters)
- Toiletries
To coordinate a donation or for information contact Graciela "Chela" Vallejo at (310) 584-7647.
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Venice YouthBuild students host second open mic and book release at The Talking Stick
On February 22nd our YouthBuild students hosted a second open mic event at The Talking Stick Coffee Lounge in Venice. The event before a packed house also featured the release of an anthology of students' poems, titled "Would You Wear My Eyes."
YouthBuild student Daniel Johnson put together a five-minute video of several performances from the first open mic event on January 25th. See below!
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Venice YouthBuild Open Mic at The Talking Stick Jan. 25th
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Copies of "Would You Wear My Eyes" are available for purchase for a suggested $5 donation. For more information contact YouthBuild Teacher Sarah Wakasa at (310) 573-8408.
Many thanks to CCEO YouthBuild, Pico Youth and Family Center, the UCLA PEN Center USA, and everyone who attended one or both performances!
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YouthBuild Advisory Board forms to support training and placement of students
Eleven longtime community partners have heightened their commitment to Venice YouthBuild and Venice Community Housing by becoming the inaugural members of the YouthBuild Advisory Board, which held its first meeting on March 6th.
"Our hope is that the YouthBuild Advisory Board will help increase the quality of our training opportunities and the number of students who are successfully placed into positive career paths following program completion," said YouthBuild Transition Coordinator Rick Solis.
The Board, which includes representatives from local colleges and universities, unions and the construction industry, will meet quarterly to share resources and expertise, advise on YouthBuild's curriculum and training, and assist with student placement.
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Mark Your Calendar!
 Jazz at Palms Court
Sunday September 15th
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
743 Palms Blvd., Venice
Join us for our 21st annual jazz brunch fundraiser! Ticketing information to come this summer. For individual and corporate sponsorship opportunities contact Development Director Myrna Pappas: (310) 573-8407.
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The Richard Glaser Band performs at the 2012 Jazz at Palms Court Brunch
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 Finally, congratulations to our own Development Manager Anne Dobson for her stellar performance in the 2013 Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday!
This was Anne's first marathon, and after intense and committed training these last six months she finished in 3 hours, 55 minutes and 23 seconds at an amazing pace of 8:59 per mile!!
Until next month,
VCH
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Venice Community Housing
720 Rose Ave, Venice, CA 90291 P: (310) 399-4100 F: (310) 399-1130
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Venice Community Housing 
