Social Services at Blessed Sacrament, Inc.

The needs of the homeless and poor in Hollywood are growing by leaps and bounds. Outside assistance is urgently needed to help carry the present financial burden. Over 2001, Social Services at Blessed Sacrament experienced a phenomenal 100% increase in the number of clients seeking help. In order merely to be able to comfortably meet all running expenses and maintain the available services at their current level, we need $10,000 per month.

However, since the need for assistance to the most vulnerable in the Hollywood area grows day by day, we are actively seeking to expand our programs:

• Our Emergency Rental Assistance Program for Hollywood residents currently allows for only $650 total per month. Demand is considerably higher, since many of our clients find themselves in urgent need of this type of support. To meet even the current demand, we need an additional $5,000 per month.
• A new Temporary Housing Fund would keep more homeless families of the street. Finding appropriate shelter for families who become homeless typically takes our partner agencies between three and seven days (and sometimes longer over weekends and holidays). During this time, they generally have no other choice than to live on the streets, putting their family members at risk, especially children. This fund would generate hotel or hostel vouchers to shelter such people in safer conditions while more permanent housing is located. Based on current demand, this Fund would require $1,500 per month.
• A Food Purchase Fund would allow the poor and the homeless individuals and families the dignity of choosing and purchasing their own food on a weekly basis, instead of having to receive handouts. Vouchers for local markets would allow clients to make food decisions by themselves. The program would assure tobacco and alcohol could not be purchased. Current demand show that this program would cost $5,000 per month.
• Staffing Needs. Currently the Center operates with one full time, salaried Director, three part-time employees, and a large number of volunteers. We seek actively to recruit more volunteer effort, but would also wish to appoint a full-time Assistant Director and Fundraiser and increase the number of hours worked by our part-timers. Total cost: $50,000 per annum.
• An Emergency Gas Voucher Fund would enable us to meet requests for money for gas from people finding themselves in emergency situations. Currently, we have no way of aiding such cases. Total: $100 per month.
• Building Facility Upgrade. The Social Services Center itself is located in a historical building, and is in need of upgrading and refurbishing, in order to provide a more welcoming physical environment for our clients, with the intention of providing them with greater self-esteem. Our shower programs operates with two showers only, with the result that we too frequently have to turn away people seeking shower; additional plumbing to provide more showers would cost $20,000.
• Other building costs are as follows:
  a) Minor landscaping and upgrading of waiting area are estimated at $1,750
  b) New washing machines and refrigerator storage: $1,750

Budget Overview

A considerable proportion of our real operating costs are met by donations in kind. We depend almost entirely on the time and commitment of volunteer staffing. And our food program is run on donations from local institutions and businesses. We seek to keep to a rigorous minimum any expenditure on services and items provided for our clients by soliciting donations in kind.