New Directions, Inc.

Licensed residential substance abuse and mental health treatment program for homeless men and women veterans. Provides job training, placement, parenting and family reintegration classes. Serves 800 veterans a year.

How do you help people in my community?

Located in Los Angeles County, New Directions, Inc. is in a prime location to assist our country’s largest population of homeless veterans. More than 7,400 vets find themselves without shelter on the streets of Los Angeles County on any given night, many with the health needs, substance abuse and psychological disorders that NDI is adept at serving. While thousands of chronically and newly homeless veterans are living on the streets of L.A., New Directions Inc.’s doors are open to any eligible veteran in need – no matter where he or she is from originally.

New Directions’ role in successfully rehabilitating homeless veterans extends to all stages of care. NDI currently offers the only 24-hour emergency shelter and detoxification clinic for male veterans in all of Los Angeles County. Some veterans seek immediate care at New Directions including food, shelter, detoxification and health assessments; many stay for the long-term, finding tailored case management, new skill sets and successful reintegration into homes, communities and families.

Why do you need my support?

While overall homelessness is down in Los Angeles County, veteran homelessness is up. Veterans returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan are winding up on the streets at a faster rate than veterans from previous wars as they return home with diminished resources - and often - both physical and psychological injuries.

Your contribution allows New Directions to provide sensitive, individualized care to every homeless veteran who walks through our doors. Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and women veterans thrive in smaller programs that require more resources than older dormitory models. And as these costs go up, government funding has gone down. Your donation is essential to ensure that homeless veterans receive the attention and mental health care they deserve, and the vocational services needed to get them back on their feet.

How can I be sure that you will use my money wisely and won't waste it?

New Directions’ accounting and development departments have many years of experience in managing federal grants as well as numerous state, local and private grants. We have developed stringent financial procedures in accordance with GAAP, FASB, and OMB Regulations. The Board of Directors oversees the finances of the organization and approves all budgets, policies and procedures, and large expenditures. The Board receives a conventional Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss statement with Budget Comparison and Variance analysis for bi-monthly review. In addition, New Directions provides periodic reports to the federal government and undergoes an annual independent audit. The independent auditor meets with the Board to discuss the results of the annual audit.  NDI received a clean report from its auditors last year.

Can I Volunteer? How?

New Directions appreciates the community’s support and interest in our program and encourages volunteer involvement.  Volunteer opportunities include assisting with job preparation for clients (mock interviews, resume writing and job search), basic computer training, and assisting at special events.  We also seek green thumb enthusiasts to work in our gardens.  In addition, we are always looking for marketing and public relations professionals to help us spread the word about New Directions.  Because our program is highly structured, interaction with clients is closely supervised.  Volunteers are required to complete an initial screening, background check, TB and drug testing prior to coming on board.  For more information about volunteer opportunities, please contact LaShanda Maze at (310) 914-4045 ext. 161, or Lmaze@ndvets.org.  Also, monetary contributions can be made online through the agency’s website at www.ndvets.org.