Upward Bound House - Family Shelter - Los Angeles, California

Thetruth A.

want to share News of a rapid rehousing organization, so that it could be shared so that what’s being done in the dark can come to light. Upward bound house is an organization that’s supposed to help sustain housing and prevent homeless.

However, they are stealing adopt a family gifts and also stealing checks. My case manager Timothy Miller called me in mid June and asked why was I behind on my rent I explained to him and he told me I should’ve called him, I wasn’t aware that I could because he always made it seem as though I wasn’t doing enough on my end and I could get dropped from the program at any moment.

He said that I don’t have to worry after going over my budget and hearing why I was behind he said that they would pay my balance and not to worry about the month of July they’ll cover that too just focus on the month of August.

Mid July I receive a 3 day notice, I contacted my case manager and told him he said he forgot to send the check over and he’ll contact my property manager to set up the payment and he’ll call me back after a graduation. On that day he went on vacation for a whole week and my case went into eviction.

My property manager said that she wouldn’t send it in to eviction had she heard from him, he’s never contacted her to this day. He gave me his “supervisor” number and he promised that he would talk to their grant department to get the payment but asked me if I could pay 4K for the months that the rental agency denied my rent due to my case being in eviction.

I filed a grievance complaint they had 72hrs to get back with me and schedule a mediation and nothing two weeks later I asked his “supervisor” Ethan Lewis for his supervisor number since he wasn’t handling the grievance as which their policy says they’re supposed to and these people are still not attempting to do anything and it’s obvious that he stole the check like he did prior months and was sending me rent assistance leads when I wasn’t behind in rent. Well I wasn’t aware that they weren’t paying their portion as they were required. I am a college student/single mom/ employed I don’t receive any cash assistance from the government and I only receive 56$ in Calfresh. Please shed light on that negligent organization the ceo never contacted me back no one in there has contacted me back. And they’re all trying to cover up what’s going on in there because their hands are also in the jar.

Shauntice C.

The program is unprofessional I have been there for 2 years just left to sit there then the staff come hassle and harass you asking why your still here in the program your only supposed to be here 3 to 6 months but have not done what there supposed to assist with who do you report these people too I have so much to report people need to be aware of what’s going on within these programs I came to get help not argue and be belittled by staff members

Gus O. B.

My Fiance ended up homeless after 15 months of disability. She was in her own place about 7 years, so she Came to this place UPWARD BOUND HOUSE. Since she was brought to UPWARD BOUND HOUSE, her stay has been a nightmare. They started a fight three days later when we had to beg for the authorization to let us replace her bed for a special one. Next a light bulb for the restroom took two weeks to be provided. Their arguments for every protocol that need to be adapted has no further explanation. The head of the program of the UBH, Chris and Ariana, the manager of her case, are heartless and never believed my fiance and love of my life is in agonizing pain everyday. These people are not good social workers and are not interested to help people to deal with complex problems. Shameful!!!!

Resp. To the owner: I don't think you understand how deep is the problem: I had a meeting with your staff and they came unprepared, so they end up asking her and me to go look for a job. She is a cross country winner, a personal trainer certified, a person who was making more than 100k year. A person who has a dream team of social workers and lawyers to defend her rights, and on the top, she had me to provide family care and your people blocked me to go inside.

I'm sorry, we were absolutely grateful when we came to live there, but your staff is unprepared to say the least.

Rose O. S.

Terrible place, all the staff are snobs, they have roaches, the cook is terrible, their's only one stressed out case manger who dont help with any housing resources. The program director comes in anytime to charge his electric BMW then leaves. They withhold donations. They use you by having you sign up for events so they keep there sponsors, then rush you to move out with no place to go.
They try to run games and befriend you to spread your issues around there office. They look down on you. I always see the cook tasting the food then putting the spoon back in food to serve. The only person who is a jewel is the employment specialist, she gets job resources and clothes for clients.everyone else there for a check.

Ikea S.

I called to get information on if they had any openings and I'm not sure if the guy was just having a bad day or if he just wasn't trying to help. I'm pregnant and he said they only help those in the 3rd trimester? I told him in a couple weeks away from that and he told me no, we only help 7 months or after. That's way passed the 3rd trimester for one, and for 2 to require someone to be that far along is ridiculous. I'm going to keep trying and see if I can speak to someone else and still get a referral (he told me I needed one of these as well).. but he was very rude about it and that in itself is uncomfortable. If you're trying to help people, then do that. Don't be a butt about it.. I've helped many homeless shelters before my own situation so that was different for me speaking to someone who didn't seem to want to help me. I'll update my review if anything changes!

A B.

First and foremost this place is a dump. The walls smell like cigarettes. The staff is ghetto and unprofessional. They treat you like a criminal. The maintenance lady harasses the residents for money. We are homeless parents seeking help from sexual and domestic abuse. Most of us don’t have enough to feed ourselves let alone our children. Here comes this woman to ask us for money and whatever else she can find. The food they serve is rancid, we’re not the only ones who have gotten food poisoning. They violate our human rights. Who? The staff. Ariana, Chris, Lisa. They walk into your residence unannounced, steal things from your room and say it’s your fault for not being in the room at the time of the incidence. Chris the program manager gave me until 2pm to get my belongings from the room. At 2:04pm he came to me in front of another resident at the shelter and told me I could not return to the room and get my belongings. (I was in the parking structure walking forwards the car, I was moving my child’s clothing to a friends car) then he told me I had no rights and I was not homeless (I’m still homeless, they did not provide one housing resource) that was not a resident at the shelter and I needed to leave now. I ended calling Culver City PD for assistance as Chris was standing in front of me and refused to let me in the room. As I tried to go to the room he started yelling at me while chasing me around the property. “Where is your baby? Is she in the room alone? I’m calling child protective services for child neglect) my child was not in the room or on property grounds when the attack happened. Upward bound house is not a place where you can be safe in. There are convicted felons living in the build. The man held up el pollo loco at gun point. Swat and the helicopter had the shelter surrounded. We were held against our will by police as we could not leave the property. The couple who killed their 4 month old baby and dumped in a garbage can by the Crenshaw mall also lived at the shelter. This is the type of environment we’re supposed to thrive in. My ptsd is now worse because of upward bounce house. They think they’re above the law. Even as a homeless women; I have rights!! I’m a human being.

Evangelina I.

Terrible unprofessional I requested a different worker the manager jewel at Compton upward bound house kept placing with her best friend even though she discriminated me and kept telling me to get a job. Terrible experience. Do not wish it on anybody.

Olivia N.

This place helps out sooo much, & has some of the best resources any other shelter has. The on hand cook is terrible and very rude, she cant cook at all, but being that we are homeless how can we complain right? Lol besides that this place is gr8 I really enjoyed my stay here, staff was very down to earth and so helpful and encouraging.