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# St. Joseph: A model for human services
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/st-joseph-a-model-for-human-services/
- Published: 2003-12-10T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:18:50.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Community, Venice, #archive-import, Homeless

*By Daily Press staff*

VENICE — Representatives from President George W. Bush’s Center for Faith- Based and Community Initiatives in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles County’s Department of Health Services last month visited St. Joseph Center, which was selected as a model of innovative and comprehensive human services provided by faith-based social-service agencies in Los Angeles County.

“The Faith-Based and Community Initiative program represent a fresh start and bold new approach to government’s role in helping those in need,” said Gunther Freehill, director of public affairs in Los Angeles County’s Office of AIDS Programs and Policy. “The White House and the Center are working to support the essential work of faith-based and community organizations and to make sure that grassroots leaders can compete on an equal footing for federal dollars, receive greater private support, and face fewer bureaucratic barriers.”

“What an honor it is to be recognized for our years of work on behalf of working, poor families and homeless persons,” said Rhonda Meister, St. Joseph Center executive director. “Our programs will certainly benefit from the support of the Center for Faith- Based and Community Initiatives.”

The Center’s funding initiatives focus on at-risk youth, ex-offenders, the homeless, the hungry, substance abusers, people with HIV and AIDS, and welfare-to-work families.

St. Joseph Center is an interfaith human-services agency that provides emergency services, childcare, case management, employment training, and senior services to over 8,000 men, women, and children each year on eight sites in Venice, Santa Monica and West L.A.

For more information, call (310) 396-6468 ext. 328 or visit www.stjosephctr.org.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 10, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/121003.pdf?ref=smdp.com)