Access Center

The Weingart Access Center is a unique project designed to fill the existing gap in non-residential services for homeless individuals and individuals at risk of becoming homeless in downtown Los Angeles. The Center's goals are to help prevent homelessness, help homeless people stabilize their lives, access necessary services, secure income, obtain permanent housing, and develop and use the support/service network to help them address the complex personal challenges they face. A secondary goal is to strengthen the continuum of care service network in Central Los Angeles by enhancing connections between service providers and ensuring that homeless and low-income clients access appropriate services.

The Access Center provides information and referral services, case advocacy, and a wide range of other social services on a walk-in basis through an innovative, collaborative effort that unites on-site specialized service providers, including the Weingart Center, the Veteran's Administration, Inner City Law Center, Homeless Healthcare Los Angeles, Beyond Shelter, Travelers Aid and JWCH Institute with the entire network of public and private social service agencies serving homeless individuals and families in the Central City community.

Specific services include:

• Information and Referral for Shelter, Housing, Food, Medical Services, Mental Health Programs, Legal Services and Other Social Services
  
• Social Service/Public Benefits Advocacy
  
• Screening and Referral for Legal Services
  
• Message and Mail Services
  
• Specialized Referrals for Veteran
  
• Recovery Groups
  
• Screening and Referral for Medical Services
  
• Family Services including Crisis Intervention, Emergency Services, and Case Management
  
• Screening and Referral for Substance Abuse Programs
  
• Food Pantry to individuals at risk of becoming homeless
  

The Center serves newly homeless individuals and families who need immediate and essential information on the available resources in the community and are presently living in emergency shelters and places not ordinarily meant for human habitation; longer term homeless individuals and families living in shelters, on the streets or in encampments; and individuals or families at risk of becoming homeless who are in need of advocacy or support services and are not affiliated with a case managed program. This may include low-income people living in downtown residential hotels.

The Weingart Access Center in downtown Los Angeles has temporarily relocated to the Leavey Center at 522 South San Pedro Street. Access Center hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (3:00 - 4:00 p.m. appointment only)

For information regarding the programs & services at the Access Center, please contact the Program Manager at (213) 627-9000.