It started as a three-year project to provide services to low-income families in South LA in a single office, an answering machine and two people. Now the Hope Street Family Center staff has grown to 130 people and 2,000 people served on any given day. Now, the Center is ready for its next big move into a four story, state of the art building that will allow the center to increase services to the community.
Located on Grand Avenue, the Hope Street Family Center is a resource center of the California Hospital Medical Center and provides all day daycare, literacy classes for parents, parenting classes, mental health services for kids, after-school tutoring and other services. They're getting ready to move from a two-story building on the same block as the California Hospital Medical Center to a four-story building a block away.
This, according to the center, “is a response to the increasing need for public recreation space and health and wellness programs in the rapidly evolving downtown area."
The expansion is a $15.7 million project expected to be completed next year in June, with construction beginning this month. The new building will be a green building, incorporating elements that will increase energy performance and reduce operating costs, while minimizing impact on the environment at the same time.
Vickie Kropenske, director of the Hope Street Family Center, said she believes the additional services the Center will offer are crucial to families in the surrounding area.
“Many people think of this area as mostly commercial,” Kropenske said. “But there are large numbers of people living in this area.”
There are approximately 120 students in the center’s after-school program, all who live walking distance from the Center. Kropenske said services to low-income are a priority, since about 98 percent of families serviced are low-income.The Hope Street Family Center also provides services in two other centers, one in Pico-Union, and another across the street from the main building.
Within the colorful, decorated halls and book-filled classrooms of the present center, staff members provide services for families, such as a fatherhood program, marriage wellness program, and services for in home visiting of families.
In addition to this, the Center offers other services such as a parent literacy program, mental health services for students.
Literacy, Kropenske said, is key, from “reading instructions given in the ER to understanding labels [on food and medication].” Research has shown that there is a link between literacy and healthy practices, she said.
One thing that is missing though, is additional outdoor and recreational space.
The new building is full of outdoor space like a child development center and outdoor play area, multi-purpose sports court, and a community and recreation center with academic center and classrooms.
“Recreational activity is fundamental to health,” Kropenske said.
At the new Center's groundbreaking earlier this month, District Nine Councilwoman Jan Perry expressed her high hopes for the new center.
"The Hope Street Family Center will provide expanded services for families and children many living below the federal poverty line,” Perry said. “The new center is a wonderful gift to the community and is a unique response to those living and facing challenges in the urban core."
In the meantime, those interested in taking a tour of the current family center can do so May 19 at 3:30 p.m., and all other third Thursdays of the month.
Have you seen…? Hope Street Mission Tour
1401 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90015
May 19th at 3:30 p.m.
