House of Hope has grown exponentially over the years. From its humble beginning in a single house treating a handful of women for alcoholism, to the multi-building treatment center now serving the more complex needs of its current clients, House of Hope has remained rooted in its mission. To accomplish this, it has had to adapt to the needs of its clients and the evolving field of addiction treatment. In its early days, the House had only a single focus: treating alcoholism. Our growth over the last 63 years has been fully dictated by our clients’ desperate cries for recovery from the ravages of all types of addiction and debilitating mental health issues.

Today the House operates a 65-client treatment facility in six buildings co-located in the Vinegar Hill Historic Section of San Pedro. We offer a variety of paths to recovery, tailored to the individual needs of our clients. These include residential treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, sober living, independent living, and the latest addition to our curriculum, the Recovery Bridge Housing program (RBH). Through this program we are able to contract with Los Angeles County to offer treatment to homeless women who need outpatient care for addiction and allow them to live in a safe, secure and sober environment while in treatment. It is appropriate for individuals with minimal risk with regard to acute intoxication/withdrawal potential, biomedical, and mental health conditions. It includes peer support, group and house meetings, self-help, and life skills development, among other recovery-oriented services. It is with great pride that House of Hope has endured all these years, thanks to its adaptability and flexibility, while remaining true to its primary mission!

This year marks House of Hope’s 63rd year of service to the recovery community. That is a very long time! How has it accomplished this significant achievement? There are a number of contributing factors, but perhaps the most important reason is that House of Hope has remained true to its mission statement throughout its long history.

A mission statement describes an organization’s purpose: why it exists, what the organization does, and whom it serves. Our mission has always been to help homeless and underserved women recover from addiction to mind-altering substances and alcohol regardless of their ability to pay. Although there have been many changes in how the House has been able to do that, our mission has remained the same.