St. Joseph Center’s mission is to provide working poor families, as well as homeless men, women, and children of all ages with the inner resources and tools to become productive, stable and self-supporting members of the community.
Recognizing the dignity that every person possesses is the cornerstone of St. Joseph Center’s approach. We work to advance social and economic equity through both the services we offer as well as our hiring practices. We are an inclusive, diverse force for change.
Staff and volunteers make every effort to provide a welcoming, safe place where all people are treated with compassion and respect.
St. Joseph Center was founded by two Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in a small storefront on Rose Avenue in 1976. From the beginning, the Center has served those in need without distinction and without precondition. Though we became a separately incorporated 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 1987, we retain an affiliation with the Sisters as a sponsored institution.
From our roots in that Rose Avenue storefront in Venice, we have grown into a multifaceted social service organization offering Outreach & Engagement, Housing, Mental Health, and Education & Vocational programs at multiple sites across Los Angeles County. Today we reach more than 10,000 men, women, and children annually.