Venice Community Housing

Monthly Newsletter   
 
 
The full scoop on our people, programs & progress
Volume 4 Issue 2                     
February 2014
IN THIS ISSUE
Faces of VCH
Wish List
Volunteer at FSV
TLC Family Portraits
Detergent Drive
YouthBuild Alumni Retreat
Upcoming Opportunities
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.  
Fast Fact

60 minutes recently aired a compelling report on the costs and benefits of housing the chronically homeless.

Check out the story here:

100,000 Homes: Housing the homeless can save money?
100,000 Homes: Housing the homeless can save money?
 
Faces of VCH

Felicia Revero

AmeriCorps Community Partnership Coordinator  
   
  

I am a bookworm and thrift store junkie from the East Coast.  

 

A couple of years ago I lived and worked in Venice for the summer. It was my first time on the West Coast, and Venice quickly became a very special place to me.  

After graduating from East Strasberg University last May, I leapt at the opportunity to return to Venice to work as an AmeriCorps Community Partnership Coordinator for VCH's YouthBuild program.

 

My role as Community Partnership Coordinator - a one year position sponsored by AmeriCorps -  is to assist in finding local service opportunities for Venice YouthBuild students and to coordinate opportunities for individuals who are interested in volunteering with our program. I love getting to know and interact with young people and I have learned a lot from our current Venice YouthBuild class.

 

In the future I hope to continue to empower young people, particularly young women. I believe that young women will save this world if given the right tools!

Quick Links

 
Wish List     


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!
 
Dear Friends,

Many of us recall, as children, bringing a a card or piece of candy to each of our classmates on Valentine's Day. Our teachers and parents encouraged us to give our love to everyone, not just our best friends. It's a lesson we may have passed on to our own children, but one that we so often forget as adults.

This month Venice Community Housing has been touched by the love that our volunteers have shown our less fortunate neighbors at both Free Storage Venice and our Westminster Transitional Living Center. They have made the lives of current and formerly homeless people a little easier, a little brighter, and full of a lot more love.

Read on for opportunities to show your love to us  - such as contributing to our detergent drive or volunteering at Free Storage Venice.  
A single volunteer hour at Free Storage Venice provides homeless with life-changing opportunities
Volunteers are needed daily at Free Storage Venice to assist clients with registration and storage bin access. 
 

Free Storage Venice - a program offering a safe, secure location for unhoused people in Venice to store their personal belongings - urgently needs more volunteers. 

 

The program has served 42 homeless individuals since launching its second winter season in December 2013.

 

Without the heavy burden of their personal belongings, clients have been able to eliminate severe leg and back pain, and they can more easily access life-saving services like temporary shelter and rehabilitation programs. 

 

Initially scheduled to wrap up on March 1st, FSV is now anticipated to continue at least through mid-July.  We continue to work with the City of Los Angeles to secure a permanent storage facility that can serve a larger number of clients and have a more enduring impact.   

 

FSV volunteers register and store personal possessions of clients in designated bins, which are then locked in a metal storage container at Venice Beach, located near the intersection of North Venice Blvd. and Ocean Front Walk. Clients are able to register for space and access their belongings between 4 and 5 p.m. daily.  

 

If you can offer even one hour of your time to FSV, contact Volunteer Coordinator Barbara Milliken at  bmilliken@vchcorp.org or Gina Maslow at gina.maslow@gmail.com to sign up. Gratification is guaranteed! 

Portraits of progress at Westminster TLC

 

Earlier this month Venice photographers Melba Levick, Carol Royce-Wilder and Sherie Scheer donated portrait sessions to the formerly homeless families living at our Westminster Transitional Living Center.

"For some of these families, this was the first time that they ever had photo taken of themselves and their children together," said TLC Program Manager Carmen Navarro.

"There was a lot of anxiety before the photo shoot, but at the end it was one of the happiest days for the TLC families, and an awesome boost for these women and children as they continue the emotional healing process."

Donate one bottle of detergent and help loads!    

 

Our Resident Services Department is seeking donations of laundry detergent to support low-income families living in our buildings.

Please consider dropping off a bottle of detergent or bleach at our Venice office or ordering detergent online and shipping it to us.

All donations can be delivered to:
Venice Community Housing 
Attn: Resident Services 
720 Rose Avenue
Venice, CA 90291 

Venice YouthBuild graduates travel to San Francisco for CA alumni retreat  

Elected members of the YouthBuild California State Alumni Council gathered in San Francisco for a three-day retreat 
Six Venice YouthBuild graduates attended a retreat in San Francisco February 7th - 9th as representatives of the YouthBuild California State Alumni Council (CSTAC).

The CSTAC is the peer-elected governing body comprised of YouthBuild graduate leaders from across the state of California. Their responsibilities include providing policy input to YouthBuild USA, advocating for state YouthBuild appropriation, and strengthening leadership opportunities YouthBuild graduates.

Current Venice YouthBuild alumni serving on CSTAC include:
Daniel Johnson, Cycle 11 - Council President 
Lorenzo Valencia, Cycle 10 - Council Secretary  
Christopher Gonzalez, Cycle 11 
Aaron Holt - Cycle 11 
Leslie Lopez - Cycle 10 
Erica Petit - Cycle 11

VCH participates in SuperBowl-A-Thon benefiting the Westside Shelter and Hunger Coalition 

 

We had a blast at the 18th annual Westside Shelter and Hunger Coalition SuperBowl-a-Thon on January 30th!

Staff enjoyed an afternoon of fun and games along with other teams of nonprofits, government agencies and faith groups that serve homeless and low-income people on the Westside.
Upcoming Events and Opportunities 
 

wine-setup-grey-sm.gif Donor Appreciation 

 

Thursday March 13th, 6-8 p.m.

 

5509 Via Donte

Marina Del Rey, CA 90291 

 

Our annual Donor Appreciation, celebrating our 2013 supporters, will take place at the waterfront home of Harlan Lee, Chairman of Lee Urban Homes.

Parking is available nearby along Via Marina.

Please RSVP by March 4th to Myrna Pappas at
(310) 573-8407 or mpappas@vchcorp.org.

 

Take a Tour of VCH

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 schedule a tour contact Linda Lucks:
(310) 526-3857 or llucks@vchcorp.org.   
With Love and Gratitude, 

 

VCH 
Venice Community Housing 
720 Rose Ave, Venice, CA 90291 
P: (310) 399-4100
F: (310) 399-1130