Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc.

San Gabriel Region

• The Formando Familias Fuertes (Building Strong Families) program at Brownson House Community Services Center (East Los Angeles) helped stabilize over 60 families through case management, life management skills training, safety net services, and counseling. Special events were held, including Christmas and Easter celebrations for the families.

• Brownson House, Brother Miguel Center (Pomona), and San Juan Diego Center (El Monte) served more than 21,000 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.

• In collaboration with Citrus Valley Health Partners, Catholic Charities promoted access to health care by providing information and enrolling families in affordable insurance programs. This service is available at the San Juan Diego Center in El Monte and at Brother Miguel Center in Pomona.

• Clinica de Salud-Sagrada Familia (Catholic Psychological Services) in Pomona increased its capacity to serve the community with the addition of a Marriage and Family Therapist intern. Catholic Charities is able to provide this program with the support and generosity of the nearby Catholic parishes.

• Homelessness is a growing concern in the San Gabriel Region. Catholic Charities served over 3,000 homeless individuals in the past year; providing motel vouchers, security deposits and rent assistance. In addition, 807 families were helped with the payment of their utility bills.

• Child-centered programs and events this year included: ADESTE programs at six locations for 320 children; week-long camp in Santa Barbara for 50 children from East Los Angeles, El Monte and Pomona; free of charge Back to School and School Supplies Day served 211 children; 100 children attended the Cardinal’s Christmas Party; 31 boys and girls took Folklorico classes at Brownson House; and 21 children participated in weekly tutoring by United Chinese Catholic Apostolic community.

Brownson House and San Juan Diego Center offer utilities assistance to the poor, allowing them to reduce their monthly bills by up to 20%. Support comes from the CARE program of Southern California Edison and The Gas Company, and from the Interfaith Energy Assistance Project of the California Council of Churches.

	A former client volunteers daily at San Juan Diego Center in El Monte while her children are at school. The Center provided a total of 18,625 services in fiscal year 2003-2004.
	At San Juan Diego Center in El Monte, elderly clients may sign up for low-cost health insurance, offered through a collaboration of Catholic Charities and Citrus Valley Health Partners.

Case management and individual counseling are among services offered at Brownson House in East Los Angeles, where staff take time to address the needs and requsts of their clients.


“My life and the life of my family are much better than before joining the program. I am glad to be a part of it. I feel that program staff provide services with joy and a sincere desire of helping and not just because it is a job.” [client of Building Strong Families Program at Brownson House]

Elena Guzman, coordinator at San Juan Diego Center in El Monte, provides assistance to a disabled client who also benefited from services of the food pantry and thrift store.

The folklorico dance program attracts young children and teenagers, providing them with a physical activity along with lessons in folk traditions and culture.

If you would like a copy of this page as it appears in print, click here to download. The file can be viewed and printed from your desktop with Adobe Acrobat Reader.