Basic Organization Information
ASCENCIA
- Physical Address:
-
Glendale, CA
91204
- EIN:
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20-4233822
- Web URL:
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www.ascenciaCA.org
- NTEE Category:
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L Housing, Shelter
-
L41 Temporary Shelter For the Homeless
-
P Human Services
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P85 Homeless Services/Centers
-
L Housing, Shelter
-
L99 Other Housing, Shelter N.E.C.
- Year Founded:
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2006
- Ruling Year:
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2006
- How This Organization Is Funded:
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U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - $1,200,000
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County of Los Angeles - $200,000
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Pacific BMW - $225,000
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Mission Statement
To end homelessness in the greater Glendale area, one person, one family at a time.
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Impact Statement
Ascencia (formerly PATH Achieve Glendale) operates a range of services and housing to connect over 1,200 men, women and children to essential homeless services and programs each year. We provide emergency housing to 40 individuals and people in families each night, with a third of those served children. 70% of the people we shelter move to transitional or permanent housing within 90 days. One dozen homeless families are housed in apartments leased by Ascencia for up to years. Next Step, our permanent supportive housing program (8 units) assists formerly chronically homeless people in recovery from substance abuse addiction. Ascencia further provides ongoing services to support formerly chronically homeless adults in permanent housing. Over 350 volunteers support our agency each year.
Though Ascencia is primarily government –funded, a 12 member Board of Directors plays a significant role in private fundraising for the organization.
Revenue and Expenses
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Financial Statements
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Chief Executive
Natalie Profant Komuro
Term:
Since
Aug
2007
Chief Executive Profile:
Natalie Profant Komuro has 22 years experience in homeless services, ranging from health care and housing services to public policy. Ms. Komuro’s career began with Homeless Health Care L.A. followed by work to develop newly formed Beyond Shelter. For 10 years she served as Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s Director of Policy and Planning, and authored three application narratives yielding over $100 million in federal funds for Los Angeles City and County. Ms. Komuro joined PATH Achieve Glendale (now Ascencia) as Executive Director in August 2007. She has overseen improved operations and increase of the operating budget from $1.5 million to $1.8 million. Enhanced services under her direction include additional counseling hours for clients, art therapy and health education. B.A., International Relations, Pomona College; M.A., Urban Planning, Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Planning, UCLA.
CEO/Executive Director Statement:
Welcome to Ascencia! With so much attention focused on the crisis of homelessness in Skid Row, many people do not realize that homelessness occurs throughout Los Angeles County. Ascencia is located in the beautiful and vibrant city of Glendale, which is not known for its homelessness. Yet there are people who continue to experience hardship and homelessness here and in the surrounding communities. The current economic downtown has made the demand for our services even more urgent.
“You made me feel like a human being again.”
At Ascencia we endeavor to welcome our clients into a place where they can feel safe and supported. This culture of support starts from our street outreach and the front desk throughout our staff to our nightly volunteers. We have a very committed team of case managers who can respond to the variety of needs that people have, including employment assistance, mental health care, veterans’ services, and substance abuse recovery services. We also offer on-site psychiatric services, stress-reduction groups, parenting education and individual trauma therapy. While we remain focused on our primary goal – to get our clients into housing as quickly as possible – we do everything in our power to make our clients’ time with us positive and enduring.
Volunteers from local churches, businesses, schools and service clubs support our emergency housing program with nightly meals and early morning breakfasts. Tutors from School on Wheels help the children in our emergency housing program get back on track. Parents give high praise for this resource for their children.
We are deeply fortunate for the caring support of our local community. Donors to our agency help us unlock thousands of dollars of federal support. For every private dollar donated, we can access $4 in funding. So, a $20 donation means we can provide $100 in service. Join us and help us continue this desperately needed service.
Natalie Profant Komuro
Executive Director
Officers for Fiscal Year
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Highest Paid Employees & Their Compensation
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Program:
Access Center
- Budget:
-
--
- Category:
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Human Services
- Population Served:
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Homeless
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Homeless
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Homeless
Program Description:
First stop for people seeking homeless services in the City of Glendale. Street outreach team visits people on the streets and provides transportation to PATH Achieve for services.
Access Center staff conduct intake and thorough assessment of client needs. Based on the assessment, clients are referred to the appropriate program.
Case management team has specializations in:
- mental health
- employment services
- substance abuse recovery
- veterans' services
We employ a "whatever it takes" approach to assistance, while expecting clients to do their part to find a new home. This includes budgeting and saving, finding work and accessing counseling resources to address issues heightened by the stress of homelessness.
Program Long-Term Success:
Information forthcoming.
Program Short-Term Success:
Information forthcoming.
Program Success Monitored by:
Agency tracks client performance using HMIS. All programs undergo external monitoring by the City of Glendale.
Program Success Examples:
Information forthcoming.
Program:
Emergency Housing Program
- Budget:
-
--
- Category:
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Housing
- Population Served:
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Female Adults
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Male Adults
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Children and Youth (infants - 19 years.)
Program Description:
Emergency Housing Program provides 40 beds, up to 60 day stay (90 days extensions granted). The program operates from 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 a.m. seven days a week.
Program requirements:
- adults must pass drug test and background check to enter program
- adults must agree to savings plan and to participate in case management services
- parents must attend weekly parenting education groups with LCSW
Program accepts families of any size that meet the above criteria, including single fathers and teenagers.
Children receiving tutoring on school nights.
Volunteers provide dinner nightly.
Adults and children have access to a computer for school, job and housing search work.
We enforce a strict code regarding personal behavior; no violence or abusive behavior is tolerated.
Program Long-Term Success:
Program Short-Term Success:
Program Success Monitored by:
Program Success Examples:
Program:
Scattered Site Transitional Housing
- Budget:
-
--
- Category:
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Housing
- Population Served:
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Homeless
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Single Parents
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Other Named Groups
Program Description:
This transitional housing program serves homeless families. PATH Achieve master leases twelve apartments scattered throughout the City of Glendale. The families pay a reduced rent and have up to two years in the unit. Some families will move out within a year; others will stay on for the full two years. If their income allows, they may take over the lease at the time of their graduation from the program.
The families are supported by a full-time case manager who provides guidance, support and resources to help them rebuild their lives.
Program Long-Term Success:
Program Short-Term Success:
Program Success Monitored by:
Program Success Examples:
Program:
Next Step Permanent Supportive Housing
- Budget:
-
--
- Category:
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Housing
- Population Served:
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Substance Abusers (Drug/Alcohol Abusers)
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Adults
Program Description:
Next Step provides eight units of housing for single adults who were chronically homeless and are currently in substance abuse recovery. A half-time case manager provides guidance and support, as well as access to resources to support their recovery. Since most clients have destroyed their credit, emphasis is given to financial literacy and planning. Weekly house meetings keep the participants focused on their goals and creates a network of support for them as a group. Next Step clients also use Access Center services, including the on-site psychiatrist and volunteer LCSW.
Program Long-Term Success:
Program Short-Term Success:
Program Success Monitored by:
Program Success Examples:
Funding Needs
Unrestricted funding for general operating costs makes it possible for us to carry out our mission to end homelessness in the greater Glendale area, one person, one family at a time.
Each of Ascencia's programs has signficant government support. However, there are three constraints that make it difficult to use the funding:
- They are paid on a reimbursement basis. Therefore we must pay for everything up front first.
- There is a cash match requirement, so for every $100 we spend, we get between $75 and $80 back.
- There is significant administrative requirements that they do not pay for. So, the good news is that we have a lot of financial oversight and accountability. The bad news is that the government rate of pay for that work is 2.5%.
So, even with sizeable government grants, the ability for us to do our work utterly depends on the generosity of individuals, businesses and foundations.
Volunteer Needs
We have a "guest chef" program that is comprised of groups of volunteers. Individual volunteers have assisted with clerical work, holiday mailers and general facility maintenance (landscaping or miscellaneous repairs).
Request for In-Kind Contributions
Families in our transitional housing program and graduates from our emergency housing program often need household items, including beds, dressers, and dining room tables and chairs, as well as bed linens and towels.