2002-2003 Annual Report

San Fernando Region

The Glendale Community Center provides poverty services, homeless assistance, case management and youth services, such as a computer lab. The STAR (Students Training as Role Models) program, a partnership between Catholic Charities’ Glendale Community Center and the Glendale Police Dept. targets "at-risk" youth with positive interaction from police officers and other professionals. Moeed Khan, San Fernando Regional Director; Margaret Pontius, Guadalupe Center Director; Congressman Brad Sherman; and Monsignor Gregory Cox, Catholic Charities’ Executive Director, were present at the inauguration of the Senior program at Guadalupe Community Center. Guadalupe Center, located in Canoga Park, is beginning Phase III of its capital improvement project. Phase III encompasses the construction of a new Family Services building of approximately 3,000 square feet, which will be used for case management, counseling, meeting space and a youth room. During the past year, the Center provided assistance to approximately 3,200 individuals and families. The Temporary Skilled Labor Center in Glendale is a collaborative effort with the City of Glendale, the Glendale Police Department and Catholic Charities. The site provides a place where employers and employees can negotiate the terms of employment. The day laborers play an active role in running the daily operation of the center. This program is considered one of the most innovative in the nation for addressing the needs of day laborers and employers. Guadalupe Center unveiled the Older Adult Services and Intervention System (OASIS) program to help elderly residents and their caregivers in the West San Fernando Valley. The center received a direct grant in the amount of $440,000 from the U.S. Department of Aging to establish the program. The program is designed to help seniors stay at home for as long as possible by providing them with a broad range of social services, at no charge. Loaves & Fishes, one of the largest food pantries in Glendale, has been serving area residents for more than 18 years. In 2003, Loaves & Fishes helped over 5,000 unduplicated family units. Additional Loaves & Fishes’ sites include a food pantry in Van Nuys and a thrift store in Glendale. The Lancaster Shelter is a 45-bed Transitional Housing program. It offers shelter to men, women and families and provides supportive services that include life skills workshops, case management, and information and referral. Last year, the shelter provided over 16,000 bed nights.

The San Fernando Region offers youth educational enrichment and tutorial assistance with basic math, language and computer skills, in addition to recreational activities. Youth and police officers involved in the STAR At-Risk-Youth program participate in learning activities, games, field trips and discussions. The Temporary Skilled Worker Center in Glendale facilitates work at fair wages while providing a place for day laborers to safely wait for employment.

San Gabriel Region

The colorful mural at Brownson House in East Los Angeles is dedicated to all the mothers in the community. In 2003, Brother Miguel Center served over 6,600 clients, who were at-risk or homeless, by helping to meet their basic needs and assisting them to work toward self-sufficiency. The new seniors’ club, at Brownson House in East Los Angeles, gives elderly members of the community an opportunity to participate in social and recreational activities. The San Gabriel Region started the Formando Familias Fuertes (Building Strong Families) program at Brownson House. The goal of the service is to strengthen families through case management, life management skills, training and counseling. Brownson House Community Services Center (East Los Angeles), Brother Miguel Center (Pomona), and El Monte Community Services Center served over 22,000 unduplicated individuals through the Basic Needs Assistance program, which provides food, temporary shelter through motel vouchers, clothing, and winter utilities payment assistance to homeless and low-income families. 161 children received free back-to-school haircuts and school supplies at the El Monte Community Center. The “Building Bridges” project served 23 elementary school children through weekly one-on-one tutorial classes in Math and English. The tutoring was made available by 18 young adult members of the United Chinese Catholic Apostolic community. 750 families were given generous Christmas baskets at the El Monte Community Services Center, Brownson House, and Brother Miguel Center. A seniors’ club, Seniors in Movimiento (Seniors on the Move), was started at Brownson House this past year. 17 seniors “took control of the their Health” in the Tomando Control de Su Salud program, which offers a six-week course on controlling chronic disease. The San Gabriel Region maintained its community partnership to serve the homeless in West Covina and Pomona. The West Covina Community Services Center and the Pomona Access to Social Services helped over 1,500 individuals with housing placement assistance and/or job development and employment services. The ADESTE program in the San Gabriel Region provided 400 children with affordable after school care at 8 locations. As one of 7 partners of the California Interfaith Energy Assistance Project, the San Gabriel Region was able to assist 1,231 low-income families in securing a 20% discount off monthly electric bills. Traditional case management and emergency assistance, consisting of: needs assessment; individual planning and goal setting; mobilization of resources; referrals; and daily food distribution, are provided throughout the San Gabriel Region. The Formando Familias Fuertes (Building Strong Families) program at Brownson House (East Los Angeles) addresses the immediate needs of clients and develops a comprehensive social and healthcare plan beyond emergency assistance. A study conducted at Brownson House, to determine community needs, found that access to food was the highest need among clients.

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