By Daily Press staff
Dozens of homeless people found a safe haven at a local park last month. Twenty-five staff and guests held a picnic barbecue and game fest at Clover Park on June 28 to celebrate Safe Haven’s second anniversary serving the most difficult to reach chronic homeless individuals with mental health problems in Santa Monica and West Los Angeles. Participants were treated to ribs, chicken, salmon, salads and board games.
Utilizing a nationally recognized harm reduction approach to homelessness, Safe Haven provides housing, case management, outreach and advocacy. Its collaborators include Shelter Partnership, RAND, Lamp Community, and the city of Santa Monica’s Chronic Homeless Pilot Program.
“We are looking to expand our program from 10 to 25 beds when our Cloverfield Services Center opens later this year,” said Lou Anne White, project director.
Safe Haven is one of OPCC’s — formerly Ocean Park Community Center — 11 programs on eight sites providing emergency, transitional, and permanent housing, mental and medical health programs, food, counseling, peer support, and in-depth preparation for independent living for more than 10,000 homeless and low-income men, women, and children each year. For more information call (310) 458-1292 or visit www.opcc.net.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 4, 2006. Read the original PDF.