St Joseph Center - Social Workers Annex Office - Venice, California

La H. M. G.

I've been homeless for almost five years due to domestic and financial abuse. I was referred to this place by VFC. I receive emails thanking me for appointments that I never knew existed. I'm a woman living in my car and have never once been offered a voucher for a motel, NOTHING. I know other homeless people who have been given one bedroom apartments and just trashed the place and did drugs until they were kicked out. STILL those people get vouchers for weekly and monthly motels.
The Safe Inside program turned out to be a total disaster, a bunch of fraud going on. They send me emails saying CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE MADE THE LIST FOR..BLAH BLAH BLAH.
But it's for low income and section 8. I don't qualify until disability is approved. I've never felt more like giving up than any other time in my life. There's no help. Even for those of us who quit drugs, followed every order.

Marion B. (.

The receptionist Tyler or whatever who answers the phones is extremely rude. Not only was he NOT helpful, and confusing, he would just transfer me straight to voicemail because he was too lazy to go on the website and tell me what time the intake process would stop taking people. Repeatedly ignored my calls all throughout the day. It’s been a month and half and I still have yet to go there. The website says to call the voicemail intake line if you can’t make it in person. I’ve left multiple voicemails over a month and half and nobody’s called me back yet. And they have only ONE case manager working for the entire facility, and two case managers in training. When asked how many people are signed up with the facility, and they said approximately 400!!! How’s that even possible. Understaffed is an understatement.

What a

B G.

They don't give all of the correct information upfront. They claimed to be open on Fridays, but they never have been. The staff was incompetent and talked too much! The security was this slow Black guy that acted like a pitbull over small things, like he was guarding a castle and was unprofessional. They gave away some clothes but they were only for females. The staff was rude. Some help was better than none and why I gave them two stars.

Jesse A. F. G.

They are very fair and I was always treated with respect and dignity. This place was a life saver for myself as a self accomplished starving artist. Bread and Roses Cafe kept me fed and with Coffee each morning for a year while I was a homeless musician. But you need to be an early riser to get the full advantage of daily services such as showers. I eventually learned.. 😉
They can do much for you but you need to be willing to show up and do the work and take the steps to improve your situation, they can't do all the work for you. Very fair and compassionate staff, some of my favorites left but were always replaced with the same kind of people who are tireless in their level of compassion. I love this place.
My only complaint at all; I think the showers could be a little better ventilated and could use a mop and clean a little more often.. I find myself not wanting to touch the walls, floor or curtain. Some hanging hooks for your clean clothes/bags could be a huge improvement. Putting all your gear on one chair including the clothes you went in wearing is a challenge.. and I hate when my cleans touch that floor. I am a bit of a clean freak for a homeless person.

Joseph G.

They do not return calls. Wasted a week and $50 in gas and still have got an appointment. The web site information are all outdated. There is a lack of communication. When they do give it is is wrong or misleading. Someone needs to check on them. They need a check and balances. Or relinquish their power and allow another non-profit to do the work.

Andy H.

St Joseph's Center is the premier Social Services agency on the Westside of Los Angeles.
There are other agencies, but there is something decidedly different about this one.
It was founded by two Roman Catholic nuns.
And whatever they imbued it with has stuck as the agency has continued to thrive and expand and serve the poor, working poor, and homeless in Venice, and way beyond.
It's their attitude.
That's not to belittle other agencies, it's just to lift this one up higher.
They simply don't stop until what needs to be done, gets done, for any individual, and, as I write this, most recently for the 200 plus homeless people encamped on the Venice Boardwalk.
I know people at St Joe's personally, and have over the years, and the quality is only gotten more and more professional, well still maintaining an incredible human
touch.

So if you're in need of what they can offer, or you know somebody else who is,
Check them out.
If they can't help immediately, they will refer you to somebody who can.
They work with everybody.

And I would trust them with my life.
In fact, I actually have.

Ty L.

Gave my mother the run around. She was told to come back and was given an appointment time only to be denied at the door when she came for the appointment time that was given to her. She was told there wasn’t appointments but first come first served. Three different staff members (who clearly didn’t know what they talking about or doing )gave her three different answers and different information on the process of how things work. when she traveled from Lancaster to find assistance 3 times and they are still claiming to not have her paper work in the system. This place is a waste of time especially dealing with the case managers. I say save your time and go somewhere else.

Brian H.

Ok if your homeless good service but right now the Homelessness issue is a major issue and lines are long at all services get up early and go through orientation. Bread and Roses is a great place to eat once a day after signing up for the service and thank you chief and kitchen staff for the great time 5 days a week. Maybe even a 5 star should be added...