Round Table: A Discussion of Poverty in the Valley

To explore the causes of poverty in the San Fernando Valley and what the future may hold, The Times asked several community and political leaders and social service officials to explore the subject in a round-table discussion.

The participants: Jack Kyser, chief economist with the Economic Development Corp. of Los Angeles County; Lew Hollman, senior attorney with San Fernando Valley Neighborhood Legal Services Inc; Bobbi Fiedler, former U.S. representative and a Northridge resident; U.S. Rep. James Rogan (R-Glendale), and Sandy Bihlmeyer, program director for MEND (Meet Each Need with Dignity), a social service organization in Pacoima. Their remarks were edited for length.

Times: Let’s start by asking why we see an increase in poverty in the Valley.

Jack Kyser: Everybody talks about “the great California recession,” but the reality is probably the great Los Angeles County recession, because about 70% to 75% of the job loss in the state occurred right in this county. Some pretty fundamental jobs were lost. The other thing that we saw is that the population of the county has continued to increase. Right now, the official estimate is about 9.2 million people in the county, and people who follow demographic trends will tell you that’s an undercount by about 5% to 7%--and this is undocumented immigration.

Now you’re seeing the economy rebound, and we have about 8% unemployment in the county. Yet business is telling us they can’t find employees with the proper skills. So you’ve seen this very fundamental shift in the economic base. It’s growing again, but [there] is this terrible tendency to have high-skilled/high-wage jobs and low-skilled/low-wage jobs--but not much in the middle. Even in the middle range in jobs, you will need more skills than you used to. I think we’re probably on the cutting edge of trying to come up with proper solutions to this problem.

Bobbi Fiedler: Our [congressional] delegation has not been doing an aggressive enough job to make sure that we keep those [aerospace] jobs here. They’re slipping into other parts of the country. The work is still substantially there. But it’s left this area. The consequence is that you’ve got a lot of small mom-and-pop operations--but not enough jobs for larger and larger numbers of people.

James Rogan: I was wondering if I could get a sense that people feel that California’s relatively high tax rates--and other factors, such as workers’ comp--have driven many of the businesses out of the region. And when I say relatively high, I mean vis-a-vis our Western competitors that have been moving in a different direction.

Kyser: These other states are continuing to very aggressively solicit our economic base. I think if you would talk to any small businessperson, they would tell you that they’ll get a letter or two a month from these other states. The other thing that we have seen is the federal government will come up with programs supposedly to solve the problem. They were supposed to have this program that would help us with the aerospace/defense downsizing. What we got was a very small amount of money with so many strings and requirements that it basically wasn’t worth it. I think that’s what government has to look at when they craft these programs.

Lew Hollman: I’m sure many of those governmental factors have some impact. But it seems to me in the longer run, one of the problems is the changing needs of industry in terms of what skills they want from the work force. Peter Drucker writes, for example, about how we’re moving to a knowledge-based system where what companies need are people who are educated, flexible, capable of making decisions--and capable of educating themselves through the course of their career.

We’ve absorbed massive changes in the workplace before, but it was much easier to translate skills from agriculture into heavy industry [with] very little training time. During World War II, my father worked in a steel mill in West Virginia. They pulled people who had third-grade educations out of the hills. Within a generation, [they] were out of poverty. Literally [their] first pair of shoes were steel-toed boots that they were issued by the company. We no longer have the ability to do that, and I think it’s really critical that we address education and skills development for a long-term solution.

Kyser: I agree, because as I say, we have had firms that have come to us and said, we can’t find workers with these skills. We have this huge pool of unemployed people and a lot of them out of aerospace. But they don’t have the right skills. A key thing that we see is linking the training providers with business, one on one.

The Times: How do you accomplish that, given the bureaucracy of our public school system?

Fiedler: Historically, [the schools] always have been 20 years behind times but it’s worse now because the problems are much greater. You don’t have a homogeneous community. [There is] a lot of political infighting, a lot of demand for money that just plain isn’t there. Look at some of the schools that don’t have computers. That child who does not have the opportunity to use a computer is going to be how far behind by the time they graduate?

And you’ve got tremendous language problems. There’s a debate going on within the Hispanic community regarding whether or not bilingual education is really serving the interests of their kids to become more upwardly mobile. Those are political battles in a lot of respects and not really educational battles.

Hollman: One of the distressing things that appear to be happening is that because the makeup of the taxpayer base is so different from the makeup of the [student body], there seems to be a diminished commitment to putting resources into the educational system. People just don’t recognize what a shared interest all of us have in educating our children. I was one of the counsel on a case that dealt with reallocating resources to ensure that schools in low-income, minority communities got essentially the same basic funds per pupil as the schools in wealthier parts of the community. I received comments along the lines [of] it’s a waste of money to spend this on those kids because their parents don’t care about education. When people vote that ideology, when tax measures come up for funding the schools, it has a devastating impact.

Fiedler: [But] anybody who is working today is living on the edge. Everybody’s just trying to make ends meet and not slip further down the line. And that is the reason why you have so much pressure about not raising taxes. Why do they vote ‘no’? Because they don’t want it to come out of their pocket. Not because they don’t want to educate kids. Every person wants to see all the children in the system educated. Everybody recognizes that if they’re not educated, you have a higher level of poverty, crime, health problems and so forth. But they just are worried to death--even those in higher levels of income--whether they’re going to be able to hold on to what they have, [much] less commit more to the system out of their existing incomes.

The Times: If you could crystal ball this, what do you think the future holds? Looking 10 to 20 years down the road, what will be the economic profile of the Valley?

Kyser: I’d say you’re going to continue to fight this problem of poverty. There’s a whole bunch of spins that you can put on it, but one is age discrimination. There’s a lot of people that have lost jobs that have been good jobs. Once they get over 50, you find that business is very hesitant to rehire them. And you keep seeing business restructuring and a lot of the losses are in middle management or these production-line jobs. The growth is coming in small business, but they’re hiring in ones and fives and tens. You still have a lot of large businesses doing this restructuring and laying off in the hundreds.

Sandy Bihlmeyer: I work in Pacoima, so I see the working poor and the [immigrant] population living well below the poverty level. We talked about education--what’s not available to the kids. It’s even less available to the adults with no skills who are working very low, day-wage [jobs], have no health care, can’t feed their family. When your first concern that day is, “How am I gonna get food for my kids?” or “My kid’s got a fever, I have no health care,” you’re not thinking, “I got to hone my data-entry skills.” All those things are first and primary to that person.

We [help] by grass-roots work. At MEND, we don’t get government money. We survive on private donations. We get volunteers to do that fund-raising. And we don’t have a huge budget, but we, for example, offer computer classes and we’re pounding the pavement to get the computers in there. At the same time we’re also trying to take care of, “How am I gonna feed my family this weekend?”

We’re just one little place, so we’re not going to, by leaps and bounds, affect the poverty level of the Valley. But depending on the expectation, I think that we do affect it.

[But] you get the continuing immigration, so it’s not like [poverty will] stop someday and I won’t have a job.

Fiedler: That’s part of the problem, too. It is really where we’re getting our growth from. We’re not getting it from other parts of the country. We have growth principally [from] south of the border.

A lot of people out there still view [the Valley] as a white enclave, and it hasn’t been for a number of years. Consequently, they are loath to contribute more help to the schools and the communities that are really in very desperate need of assistance. And unless we’re able to get more assistance, we’re not going to be able to increase the resources because the people here don’t have that much more to give--which is why there’s such a big pressure against raising taxes.

Rogan: Bobbi’s absolutely right. There is an extreme reluctance on the part of most people in politics [to raise] taxes. There is just a general sense that people do not have an economic cushion. And I think that there is an overwhelming sense in the people I speak to that the taxes that they’re currently paying are, No. 1, too high, and No. 2, not being utilized properly or effectively.

I don’t think the voters are going to tolerate politics as usual. I think that there is a general sense that [despite] the War on Poverty, we have failed. There’s more poverty today than there was in 1965.

The Times: If you had the power to change things, what you would do?

Hollman: I would put a major emphasis on job development. And that means improving the educational system. It means retraining people who are already adults. It means rebuilding the infrastructure to support growth--and particularly in high tech [employment].

I would increase the minimum wage because I think it’s necessary to lift people out of poverty through work as opposed to a welfare system. I would propose a child-support allowance similar to what most European countries have that would provide a basic [level of] support to all families that have children. [I would] chase fathers to collect the child support, but would guarantee that the children get the support whether the government can collect it from the father or not.

And I would improve our health-care system because that’s a major drag on our economy. I think the absence of a decent health-care system is something that has cost America jobs.

Fiedler: Education is critical. I’m sure everybody feels very strongly about the importance of educating kids for lives today and tomorrow--and not for yesterday. And transportation. If you’re without a car in the Valley, you can’t go anyplace because our transportation system is so bad. Part of the reason I opposed [Metro Rail] was the fact it was going to deplete resources from the bus system, which gives the most flexibility and permits people to get from where they live to where they work. And it is the poorest communities that depend upon that system. Instead of seeing [it] refined and improved to meet the needs of the local community, what you’ve seen is cutback after cutback.

Kyser: I think we have to face immigration head-on. I think it’s a very emotional issue, but we have had immigration [and] we’re going to continue to have immigration. A lot of times, I think immigration policies tended to force these people into the underground economy, where they can be abused.

Hollman: There are very significant symbolic reasons why a country based on law wants its laws recognized and respected. So I think efforts to make our immigration laws more effective are very appropriate. In terms of the impact on the economy, though, historically immigrants have been among the most upwardly mobile groups in the country. In terms of long-term, persistent, intractable poverty, [it tends] not to be the immigrant population.

Fiedler: Most people who take the risk of coming here, come here for jobs. Whether they’re in the underground economy, or working in a sweat job, there still are jobs here. There are not enough people at the lower end of our existing population to take those jobs. And it’s unfortunate, because [immigrants] are exploited. It’s become a part of the economic reality here.

The only way we’re going to be able to deal with the problem is at the border, and not let this country continue to be an overflow valve for Mexico. Mexico’s economy is in terrible shape. So it’s every bit to their advantage to have large numbers of poor people come to this country. And they’re not willing to do what is necessary on their side of the border to stop the level of immigration.

Rogan: Everybody in this room believes that job development is what we should do. We all believe that the educational system needs to be strengthened. We all believe that absent fathers are probably one of the most critical social problems facing us because from illegitimacy, we derive so many other problems: problems of health care, education, emotional distress among children, economic loss.

The Times: What would you do about absent fathers?

Rogan: I believe that we ought to have laws that would require single mothers to identify the fathers before they are given cash benefits, because right now there is no incentive for that to happen. I do think that we should start focusing our attention on deadbeat dads and cause them to be responsible for their actions. We can talk about job development, but somebody said that the most important job anybody will ever have is to be a father to their children. And whether it’s through economic compulsion alone, or through trying to redirect some of our priorities to make people have a sense of responsibility in that regard.

The Times: How do you inculcate different values if that’s part of the problem?

Hollman: There have been studies that have offered relatively high-wage jobs to inner-city youth. And when that’s happened, they have found all these middle-class values come to the top. That really shouldn’t surprise us, because with rising incomes throughout the world you get lower birthrates. When people have some economic hope for their own future, they start conserving their resources. It’s when you have a sense that “I ain’t goin’ anywhere, and I ain’t ever gonna have anything” . . .

Fiedler: You have nothing to lose.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

HOTLINES

The following is a partial list of assistance resources available to Valley residents.

INFO LINE OF LOS ANGELES

24-hour information on nearly 5,000 health and human service agencies/programs in Los Angeles County. Spanish-speaking representatives available 24 hours a day. Other languages are also available.

San Fernando Valley: (818) 501-4447

Burbank/Glendale: (818) 956-1100

Toll-free: (800) 339-6993

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LOS ANGELES COUNTY OFFICES

L.A. COUNTY DEPT. OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES

Administrative office

425 Shatto Place, Suite 600

Los Angeles, CA 90020

(213) 351-5602

Services: Oversees child welfare programs, including child abuse and neglect allegations, foster care and programs to strengthen families.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

L.A. COUNTY INFORMATION SERVICES

Hall of Administration, Room 358

500 W. Temple St.

Los Angeles, CA 90012

(213) 974-1311

Information regarding programs and services provided by Los Angeles County.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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L.A. COUNTY DEPT. OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES

San Fernando Valley branch office

12847 Arroyo St.

Sylmar, CA 91342

(818) 837-2111

Services: Administers AFDC, food stamps and Medi-Cal programs.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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L.A. COUNTY DEPT. OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES/WEST VALLEY

Administrative office

9035 Canoga Ave.

Canoga Park, CA 91304

(818) 718-3500

Services: Administers AFDC, food stamps and Medi-Cal. No general relief at this location.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Area served: West San Fernando Valley

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L.A. COUNTY DEPT. OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES/EAST VALLEY

East Valley District

14545 Lanark St.

Panorama City, CA 91402

(818) 901-4124

Services: Administers AFDC, food stamps and Medi-Cal

Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Area served: East San Fernando Valley

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EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT/JOB TRAINING

CALIFORNIA DEPT. OF REHABILITATION

VAN NUYS/FOOTHILL DISTRICT OFFICE

5900 Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 240

Van Nuys, CA 91411

(818) 901-5024

Services: Job placement and retraining for mentally, physically and emotionally disabled residents, recent parolees and recovering alcoholics.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Area served: Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Panorama City, Sun Valley, Encino, North Hollywood, Studio City, Universal City and North Hills

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MISSION HILLS BRANCH OFFICE

15545 Devonshire St., Suite 103

Mission Hills, CA 91345

(818) 891-0129

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Area served: North San Fernando Valley

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WEST VALLEY BRANCH OFFICE

6800 Owensmouth Ave., Suite 100

Canoga Park, CA 91303

(818) 596-4302

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m to 5 p.m.

Area served: West San Fernando Valley

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CHICANA SERVICE ACTION CENTER

14608 Victory Blvd.

Van Nuys, CA 91411

(818) 785-6569

Services: Job placement for lowincome people; JTPA program and classroom training. Bilingual staff.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Area served: San Fernando Valley

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CALIFORNIA EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

Locations throughout the San Fernando Valley

To find the nearest office, look under “California, State of” in the government listings section at the beginning of the telephone directory’s White Pages.

Services: Unemployment and disability insurance, job referrals, employment training workshops geared to professional, managerial and technical workers.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Area served: San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys

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GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

14565 Lanark St.

Panorama City, CA 91402

(818) 782-2520

Services: Vocational training, counseling, employment and placement for disabled adults. Bilingual staff.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Admission requirements: 18 or older, disabled and meet income guidelines.

Area served: San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys

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JEWISH VOCATIONAL SERVICES

22622 Vanowen St.

West Hills, CA 91307

(818) 587-3222

Services: Non-sectarian employment and career resource center including job listings, resume and interviewing workshops, individual and group career counseling and testing.

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Area served: San Fernando Valley

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HOMELESS CORNERSTONE

San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Inc.

6728 Van Nuys Blvd.

Van Nuys, CA 91405

(818) 376-0030

Services: Daytime drop-in center for the homeless and mentally ill providing counseling, vocational training, job placement, laundry facilities, showers. Participants can also receive mail and find secure housing. Fees: Based on ability to pay

Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Area served: San Fernando Valley

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TRUDY AND NORMAN LOUIS VALLEY SHELTER

L.A. Family Housing Corp.

7843 Lankershim Blvd.

North Hollywood 91605

(818) 982-4091

Services: Emergency shelter for homeless families and single adults. Space for 30 families (maximum 90 days) and 58 units for single adults, 15 units for Department of Corrections referrals and 43 for general relief voucher referrals (maximum 60 days). On-site medical, mental health, job development, case management and preschool. Three meals daily at no charge.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Area served: San Fernando Valley

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LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES/VAN NUYS

6425 Tyrone Ave.

Van Nuys, CA 91401

(818) 901-9480

Services: Nonprofit agency providing emergency and supplementary food, some shelter and clothing, referral advocacy and counseling for low-income homeless individuals and families. Job referral and resume writing workshops. P/T staff speaks Spanish. Services are free except counseling (sliding fee scale).

Hours: Tuesday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 1O a.m. to 3 p.m.

Area served: San Fernando Valley

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WOMEN’S CARE COTTAGE

12828 Victory Blvd. Suite 294

North Hollywood, CA 91606

(818) 753-1127-administrative office

(818) 753-4580-resource center

Services: Resource center for homeless women with or without children, 15-bed shelter (maximum 60 days) and childcare center. The shelter provides group therapy, case management, living skills and parenting classes. All potential shelter residents must first be evaluated at the resource center.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Area served: San Fernando Valley

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EMERGENCY FOOD AND CLOTHING

ST. STEPHEN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH

15950 Chatsworth St.

Granada Hills, CA 91344

(818) 891-1759

Services: Food bank providing two-day emergency supply. Must be referred by social service agency.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 noon

Area served: San Fernando Valley

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GOD’S LOVE IN ACTION MINISTRIES

12650 Sherman Way, Suite 4

North Hollywood, CA 91605

(818) 982-8062

Services: Child health and disability exams on sliding fee scale offered Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Food pantry open during the week.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Area served: San Fernando Valley

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HOLY FAMILY MISSION

11511 Arminta St.

North Hollywood, CA 91605

(818) 765-8227

Services: Food assistance and distribution. Clothes for sale on Tuesday.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Area served: North Hollywood and Pacoima

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LIVING HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH

16909 Parthenia St., Suite 203

North Hills, CA 91343

(818) 891-6747

Services: Food bank Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m., youth clubs, adult classes and support groups

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Area served: San Fernando Valley with emphasis on Sylmar and Pacoima

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LOAVES AND FISHES

Catholic Charities

21600 Hart St.

Canoga Park, CA 91303

(818) 340-2050

Services: Emergency food offered Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 to 11:30 a.m., once a month only. Emergency clothes for homeless and discounted clothes for low-income people also available.

Admission requirements: Identification for all family members, proof of income, proof of address, rent receipt.

Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Area served: West San Fernando Valley

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LOAVES AND FISHES II

Catholic Charities

14525 Delano St., Suite 102

Van Nuys, CA 91411

(818) 997-0943

Services: Emergency food and clothing, limited money for emergency shelter, some advocacy with welfare benefits, case management, information and referrals to other agencies and programs. Proof of local residency and ID required for on-going assistance.

Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Area served: Panorama City, Encino, Sherman Oaks, most of Van Nuys, part of North Hollywood.

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LOAVES AND FISHES III

Catholic Charities

511 Kalisher St.

San Fernando, CA 91340

(818) 365-3195

Services: Case management for homeless and very-low-income individuals or families, emergency food and clothing, crisis intervention. Bilingual staff.

Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to noon; Thursday, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Area served: Northeast San Fernando Valley

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LUZ DE CRISTO

14541 Sylvan St.

Van Nuys, CA 91411

(818) 997-6034

Services: Food bank, one visit per week. Any needy individual or families, picture ID, proof of residency. Full-time staff speaks Spanish.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Area served: San Fernando Valley

*

MEND (MEET EACH NEED WITH DIGNITY)

13460 Van Nuys Blvd.

Pacoima, CA 91331

(818) 896-0246

Services: Food bank, also ESL classes, computer classes, job placement, youth activities, home visiting and Christmas basket program. Medical and dental clinic available for free, although $2 donation is asked. Appointments must be made in person. Bilingual staff. Nominal fee for classes. Proof of residence and income.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Area served: Northeast San Fernand Valley and Sylmar

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NORTH HOLLYWOOD INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY

4387 Troost St.

North Hollywood, CA 91602

(818) 980-1657

(818) 760-3575 (Helpline)

Services: Emergency food bank. Staff speaks Spanish.

Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Area served: North Hollywood, Sun Valley

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SALVATION ARMY

San Fernando Valley Corps

14917 Victory Blvd.,

Van Nuys, CA 91411

(818) 781-5739

Services: Emergency food bank (one visit per six months); sack lunches for the homeless (one visit per week). Picture ID and/or proof of address.

Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to noon, 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Area served: Van Nuys, North Hollywood, Panorama City

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SALVATION ARMY

North Angeles office

1027 N. Maclay St.

San Fernando, CA 91340

(818) 361-6462

Services: Emergency food, clothing and referrals to shelter and other social services; ID, Social Security card, proof of income and residence.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Area served: San Fernando Valley

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ST. JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL FOOD PANTRY

13001 Victory Blvd.

North Hollywood, CA 91606

(818) 766-7393

Services: Offers groceries for low-income and sack lunches for homeless. One visit per month for groceries; sack lunches offered daily. Clothing when available. ID and proof of residence.

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. From July 4 to Sept. 26, program operates in mornings only.

Area served: North Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Sun Valley, eastern half of Van Nuys

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SOVA FOOD PANTRY

6027 1/2 Reseda Blvd.

Tarzana, CA 91356

(310) 828-0469

Services: Food bank distribution of canned and packaged kosher food, baby, vegetarian and other special diets. Information and referral service. ID required for every family member.

Hours: Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to noon. Area served: San Fernando Valley

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ST. CHARLES CHRISTIAN SERVICE CENTER

10825 Moorpark St.

North Hollywood, CA 91602

(818) 985-7365

Services: Food pantry. Proof of address, maximum once a month help.

Hours: Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday, 9 to 11:45 a.m. Closed Saturdays during the summer.

Area Served: North Hollywood

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ST. CYRIL’S CHRISTIAN SERVICES

15520 Ventura Blvd.

Encino, CA 91436

(818) 981-6832

Services: Emergency food distribution in the trailers in the parking lot. ID, referral by agency.

Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon.

Area served: San Fernando Valley

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VALLEY BETH SHALOM

15739 Ventura Blvd.

Encino, CA 91436

(818) 788-6000

Services: Food distribution Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 1 to 3 p.m. Offered one time only, must be referred by an agency and call first.

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Area served: San Fernando Valley

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WEST VALLEY FOOD PANTRY

5700 Rudnick Ave.

Woodland Hills, CA 91367

(818) 346-5554

Services: Emergency food to be taken off the premises (three-day supply). Repeat visits are permitted, picture ID for every family member, proof of residence, agency referral.

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to noon.

Area served: West San Fernando Valley

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INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER

14354 Haynes St.

Van Nuys, CA 91401

(818) 988-9525

Services: Assistance to disabled 18 and older

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Area served: San Fernando Valley

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ETHNIC/CULTURAL EL CENTRO DE AMISTAD

7024 Deering Ave.

Canoga Park

(818) 347-8565

Services: Case management, ESL, at-risk-youth programs, tutoring, food and clothing bank, workshops, mental health and AIDS referrals.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Area served: San Fernando Valley

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EL PROYECTO DEL BARRIO

8902 Woodman Ave.

Arleta, CA 91331

(818) 830-7090

Services: Employment and training, two medical clinics, two outpatient drug facilities, health education services and programs for at-risk youth.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Area served: San Fernando Valley

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LA RAZA UNIDA/YOUTH COMMITTEE LA RAZA

11663 Herrick St., San Fernando

(818) 365-6534

Services: Youth outreach, peer counseling, study groups, arts and crafts, trips.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday, 6 to 8 p.m.

Area served: Northeast San Fernando Valley

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FINANCIAL/BUDGETS/EMERGENCY FUNDS ASSERT INC.

16745 Saticoy St.

Van Nuys, CA 91406

(818) 902-1196

Services: Energy Crisis Intervention Program to help needy families pay utility bills, job training for displaced workers, weatherization for low-income residents

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Area served: San Fernando Valley

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BURBANK TEMPORARY AID CENTER

1304 W. Burbank Blvd.

Burbank CA 91506

(818) 846-2330

Services: Food pantry, shower and laundry assistance by appointment, clothing bank and referral service.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 1:30 to 5 p.m.

Area served: Burbank

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FISH-WEST VALLEY

Congregational Church of Chatsworth

20440 Lassen St.

Chatsworth, CA 91311

(818) 882-3474

Services: Food bank, clothing, haircuts, shower facilities and low-income health care.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Area served: West Valley