Thursday, August 2, 2012

PEOPLE IN PROGRESS - CLOSING SOON- WILL A NEW PROGRAM TAKE OVER SUN VALLEY SHELTER?

UPDATE NOVEMBER 2013  We were told recently that there is construction going on inside the old PIP building but haven't heard what might be moving in.

We recently got this comment which we are editing the names out of because the comment is unsigned with no contact information no information on if the poster was a resident or employee and we don't know the people named.

Quote " People I  progress was corrupt = big time grants from the Veterans Administration and Dept of Corrections and board directors like _____________ and  ___________  were self serving criminals who promoted gang activity by endorsing racist criminals."

WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE POSTER TO CONTACT LAW ENFORCEMENT to report what he or she knows.  Also please send us a comment with an e-mail address so we can dialogue about what you experienced.  We're getting a lot of PIP bashing comments, don't know if this is from one person or many.

NOTE:  We sent an associate over to Sun Valley to see what's going on with the old PIP location and they reported workman were inside fixing up the place.  ANYONE KNOW WHO MAY BE RENTING OR OPENING AT THAT LOCATION?

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OLD POST

Word is that PEOPLE IN PROGRESS, is going out of business. After the death of the Director, Mr. Sullivan, the non-profit failed to get enough grant money to keep going.

"For 35 years, People In Progress (P.I.P.) has provided intervention and support to individuals and families in crisis with services addressing substance abuse, economic deprivation, hunger and homelessness. We are creating self-reliance- building addiction-free lives. Each year, P.I.P. provides services to more 25,000 individuals. It is our aim to help those we serve transition back into the community as productive citizens. 100 percent of our participants are living well below poverty level. Our services are designed to provide disadvantaged individuals with access - whether directly or through referral - to the resources they need to reach self-sufficiency. As a leader in delivery of alcohol/drug treatment services we provide critically needed services to the chronically homeless population suffering from alcohol and drug dependency, coupled with other mental and physical disabilities."

PIP has faced opposition from commercial neighbors in the area, but the homeless in the area, men and women not in their program, also appreciated being able to take showers in the morning, have a coffee, and occasionally pick up clothes. The presence of PIP in Sun Valley, not far from the post office, also meant that many homeless families and couples living in vehicles were able to park in the lot without being in trouble with police. Several months ago, after Sullivan's death, things changed, and the homeless were no longer allowed to shower there.

Homeless in and around the Sun Valley Park area are hoping that the new Rescue Mission group that opened a Thrift Store and has opened a shelter for women and children will be able to get the money up to take over the PIP facility, which has the capacity to house a hundred or more.

Thanks to "Brat" for the information!

UPDATE March 2013.  We've been told that some of the social workers/ case managers from PIP are now working at LA FAMILY HOUSING'S property called PALO VERDE in Sun Valley, not far from the original location.  Also that the old PIP space may be taken over by another rehab.  We'd like to hear from people staying at PALO VERDE, which was build to house homeless, about their stay there.  We understand it is a shelter for people with Section 8 and other housing vouchers.

UPDATE AUGSUT 2013 : At this point there seems to be an empty building with no non-profit shelter or rehab in place at the location. We are being told that there is a small shelter within the thrift store at the intersection of San Fernando Road and Sunland, Hope of the Valley, which is around the corner from the old PIP sight. We are also being told that the Jack n a Box nearbye which takes EBT has posted a NO LOITERING SIGN, giving only 30 minutes to eat and go.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The financial woes started far before Dennis O'Sullivan's death. The unfortunate part is that all of the people who could have found sobriety in the future there will never get the chance. I think people ought to cry "foul" and find out what happened to all the public money that was supposed to fund direct services, test the governance of the organization, open the books, and dig deep into the management processes within the agency. And, start at the top - waste no time. Things are not be what they appear to be as portrayed in the media with regard to the closure of a 37 year old nonprofit.

-PIP Alumnus and former Executive from back in the day

ExposeHomelessness.blogspot.com said...

Hello Out There. We just got a comment that would out the writer of the previous comment by name. If you would like to make a comment about the terms and conditions of living at PIP or why it closed up that's OK but we can't publish the comment as is since we do not know the person who was named, or you, to make a judgement and we try not to get into what might be a personal clash. Give it another try!

Your friends at EXPOSE HOMELESSNESS!