| 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
With your support in 2013, we housed over 500 people in our 14 properties.
11 individuals transitioned from homelessness to permanent supportive housing through our Shelter + Care program. Four formerly-homeless families transitioned
into permanent housing from our Westminster Transitional Living Center.
17 students graduated from our Venice YouthBuild program.
Over 100
homeless or low-income people secured food, clothing and toiletries from our monthly donation center.
107 children participated in our After School Study Lounge program and Westside Science Club.
257 students at
Venice High School participated in our Teen Court program.
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Looking for a last-minute gift? Look no further!
To date, we have raised almost $250 through our LivnGiv campaign. 
LivnGiv, is a crowdfunding web site that markets local "Causes" and offers you the chance to support those Causes by purchasing gift certificates to participating local restaurants.
Buy a gift card some of the best restaurants in West Los Angeles and 20 percent of the proceeds from your purchases will go directly to your selected Cause.
This makes a great holiday gift for a friend or a loved one!
For more information click HERE.
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Spotlight on Community:
United Way HomeWalk 2013
We congratulate United Way Los Angeles for another successful HomeWalk to end homelessness on November 23rd! Venice Community Housing staff and supporters were among 12,000 participant at this year's event. Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant served as HomeWalk's Honorary Chair for a third year. "Homelessness is not specific to one neighborhood or one type of person," Bryant says. "It impacts all of us and it will take a community response in order to end homelessness in Los Angeles." To watch United Way LA's video recap of the event, click HERE.
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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,
As a tribute to our donors, volunteers, advocates and community partners, we offer with our deepest thanks this December Newsletter highlighting stories of your recent generosity.
*Note* This newsletter is best enjoyed with a steaming mug of hot cocoa!
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From turkeys to teddy bears, donations make the season bright for the families and youth we serve
Our Holiday Food and Toy Drives have been a smashing success!
Thanksgiving   The Sitting Tree donated baskets of turkeys, stuffing, pies and more to 10 families living in our buildings.
VCH Supportive Services Director James Ramirez, Venice YouthBuild students and staff, and the local Ralph's Service Deli Manager Humberto Sequiera and his assistant, Marcella, collaborated to prepare and serve a delicious Thanksgiving dinner to over 40 homeless and formerly homeless individuals.
Holiday Toy and Gift Card Drives
 We were the beneficiary of toys and over $800 in donations from the annual Voice of the Canals Footbridge Lighting ceremony, organized by Darryl Dufay.
Our Young Professionals Board reached out to local businesses and secured dozens of toys and games for our Holiday Toy Drive. We applaud their hard work!
Capt. James Altman and members of the Santa Monica Fire Department, Station 3, delivered over 150 toys and games, ensuring that we could be able to provide at least one toy to every child living in our buildings or participating in our After School Study Lounge program. We are deeply touched by their continued generosity.
 
Finally, a big THANK YOU to all the individuals who donated food, warm clothing, toys, gift cards, and cash assistance throughout our Holiday Drive Season, and who continue to contact us with more donations!
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Celebrating 25 years of service and leadership
VCH honors Founding Executive Director Steve Clare at annual holiday celebration
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Board Member and Volunteer Coordinator Barbara Milliken presents Executive Director Steve Clare with a certificate recognizing his five years as an exemplary volunteer from 1988-1993. Photo credit Jack Prichett.
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Over 25 years ago Steve Clare had the vision of a community-based non-profit organization that would provide affordable housing and help the homeless in Venice. He worked tirelessly in the late 1980s and early 1990s to bring that vision to life.
Venice Community Housing was born in 1988 as a volunteer organization operating out of a small law office on Venice Blvd. which housed the law practice of Steve Clare, Susan Millmann and a few other attorneys. For five years, from 1988 to 1993, Steve served without pay as the VCH's Executive Director, building community support and bringing in the grants and funding needed for a full-time organization. VCH was officially registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1993.
At our annual staff and Board holiday party on December 13th, we honored Steve for over a quarter century of selfless devotion to VCH and to the greater Venice community.
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Volunteer News
Volunteers key to making 21st annual Jazz at Palms Court the most successful yet!
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VCH staff members and Jazz Committee members Jack Prichett, Ethel Gullette, Laurie Pincus, Sylvia Aroth, Barbara Milliken and Yvonne Chang. Not pictured: Sherry Anapol, Jena Turkheimer.
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Volunteers make a difference! September's Jazz at Palms Court fundraiser proved it. Revenue from this year's Jazz event exceeded last year by over 30 percent! That means more resources for the homeless and low-income people we serve. The hundreds of hours that volunteers invested in organizing and staffing the event helped us secure these fantastic results.
The Jazz Committee, guided and supported by VCH's Development and Operations staff, took on such tasks as interviewing and selecting musicians, creating the program schedule, organizing event volunteers, communicating with potential sponsors and guests, crafting and executing a strategic public relations plan, and preparing for the highly-anticipated silent auction. The eight Jazz Committee members alone volunteered over 300 hours!
The weekend of the event, additional volunteers helped set up tents, tables and silent auction displays, greeted guests, staffed the kitchen and buffet line, waited on tables, and much more. We could not have held the event without this critical volunteer support!
VCH strongly encourages volunteer participation, not only for Jazz at Palms Court, but also for other VCH programs and events throughout the year. If you're interested in volunteering, learn more about our volunteer opportunities by clicking here and/or contacting Volunteer Coordinator Barbara Milliken at bmilliken@vchcorp.org or (424) 268-5121.
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Upcoming Events and Opportunities
Invest in Opportunity: 2013 Annual Appeal
 An investment in Venice Community Housing is an investment in opportunity. Your continued support allows us to provide housing, supportive services, education and employment training to over 1,100 unhoused and low-income people each year.
Contribute to our year-end campaign by clicking here.
Volunteers needed for homeless storage program
After a successful pilot program last year, Venice Community Housing will again provide a free storage program for the homeless in Venice this winter. The purpose of the program is to provide homeless persons participating in the City's Winter Shelter Program with a place to store their possessions, allowing them to board the bus to the shelter location at the Veterans' Armory in West Los Angeles (where they will be able to access a hot meal, bed, shower facilities, and supportive services).
The Check-In Storage Program started Monday, December 16, 2013 and ends on March 1, 2014. Initially, hours will be from 4 - 5 p.m. daily, to be expanded based on our volunteer capacity.
We need volunteers to help register clients and store their belongings in a storage container located on Venice Beach at the end of North Venice Boulevard.
Volunteer training is provided by Venice Community Housing, and the City of Los Angeles will issue parking passes to the beach parking lot near the storage container.
If you are interested in volunteering please contact Barbara Milliken at bmilliken@vchcorp.org or (424) 268-5121.
Tour and Explore!
Learn about VCH's history and current efforts during a ride-along tour of our properties throughout the Venice area. This unique introduction to VCH is ideal for individuals who are new to the area and/or want to learn more about our agency.
Tours will be held the third Wednesday of every month, or by appointment. To RSVP for a tour contact Linda Lucks: (310) 526-3857 or llucks@vchcorp.org.
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We wish you a warm, safe and joyful holiday season, and offer you our best wishes for 2014!
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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