EMOTIONAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION

SHARE! Self-Help Centers: SHARE! Culver City and SHARE! Downtown Los Angeles are centers where a large community of self-help groups meet each week, addressing all kinds of issues, e.g., anger management, health, depression, self-esteem, relationships, childhood abuse, substance abuse, reaching goals, etc. Together the centers host more than 100 weekly meetings with monthly attendance of 5,000 people. SHARE! accepts brochures and flyers for distribution at its centers, so agencies and others can reach the self-help community. SHARE has lots of volunteer opportunities for people including those doing court-ordered community service. SHARE accepts all volunteers even those with limited skills or felony convictions.

SHARE! Collaborative Housing: A public-private partnership providing immediate, affordable, permanent supportive housing to disabled people in single-family houses throughout Los Angeles County. People with similar issues, such as veterans, mental health consumers, people with diabetes, trauma issues, etc. live like college roommates in the house which is furnished down to knives, forks and spoons. The homeowner furnishes the house, pays for all the utilities, does not collect a security deposit, nor a last month's rent and does not perform a credit or background check. The houses are regularly inspected to ensure quality, and SHARE! helps the owner with any issues or problems that arise. Residents attend weekly self-help support groups, help with neighborhood projects, provide support for other residents and share a room with one roommate of their choice. Residents pay rent from their disability checks or other income directly to the owner. Many owners will take pets.