By Sandra Coopersmith

Home, as they say, is where the heart is. Thanks to Upward Bound House, a non-profit social service agency founded in 1991, many hearts are now resting more easily in safe and secure surroundings.

Upward Bound has two residential facilities in Santa Monica. Senior Villa provides affordable housing for the very low-income elderly and Family Place provides transitional housing for homeless families for up to a year. Connecting these facilities and the surrounding community is its S. Mark Taper Foundation Intergenerational Center, where the three generations housed at Upward Bound can interact and receive services that enhance their opportunities to lead independent lives.

Earlier this year its newest facility, Family Shelter, an emergency short-term shelter for families with children, opened on Washington Boulevard in Culver City. But this is no ordinary shelter.

Upward Bound acquired what was formerly a low-end motel. Without a budget, but with the generosity of benefactors and vendors who donated various items, along with the creativity of 18 interior designers, who worked pro bono for two weeks, this ugly duckling was transformed into a swan.

Each designer adopted one of the 18 small units that would eventually provide temporary housing for a homeless family. Each pulled off what might be described as an Extreme Makeover: Shelter Edition, infusing each space with distinctive ideas and visions. Families in emergency circumstances now would not only have a roof over their heads but an uplifting and comforting environment, coupled with counseling and support through the Upward Bound team.

“This is an amazing second chance for my daughter and me to start our lives over,” said Chandra, who presently occupies one of the units.

“I almost broke out in tears when I saw my room for the first time,” added Tracy, another resident.

Alison Shiry, the shelter’s development manager, explained that families can stay up to 90 days in Family Shelter. Families entering the program have some form of income, whether through full- or part-time employment, unemployment compensation, Supplemental Security Income, Social Security or other sources.

“Once a family enters, a full assessment is done,” Shiry said. “As a group we discuss what would be the best plan for the family. For example, would the family be a good candidate for the Culver City RAP (rental assistance program)? Would the family be better served by a market-rate unit? Would the family be a good match for our in-house rental assistance program?”

“I’m not sure where we would be today if it weren’t for Upward Bound House,” said one woman who

graduated from Family Shelter into permanent housing.

“If a family has not secured permanent housing at the end of the 90 days, we are able to place them in a local motel or into our Santa Monica site temporarily while housing is being secured,” Shiry added. “Since Family Shelter opened we have transitioned two families into Family Place. The first family stayed a total of two weeks, a lease was signed and they are now in permanent housing with a Culver City RAP voucher. The second family just moved in and they also have a Culver City RAP voucher. Once they secure permanent housing they will exit Family Place. Their anticipated time there is 30 days maximum.”

In order to lessen disruption during the transition period, children generally continue attending schools where they’ve registered.

“Many of our children come to us enrolled in the school that was closest to their former living situation,” Shiry said. “They often choose to stay at those schools, as that has been their only anchor. We also encourage that, so the children have something familiar to them.”

A benefit for Upward Bound will be held Thursday, Oct. 14 at Sony Picture Studios, 10202 W. Washington Blvd. in Culver City. A reception is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., with an awards celebration at 8 p.m. For more about the 2010 Welcome Home Block Party, call (310) 659-5517.

Tom Unterman, founder and managing partner of Rustic Canyon Partners, will be honored along with the shelter’s business partners of the year, Culver City Chamber of Commerce and Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce. In addition to serving as a director of several of Rustic Canyon’s portfolio companies, Unterman currently serves on the boards of The California Community Foundation, CalArts, and Heal the Bay.

“I am very committed to my community,” said Unterman. “It is only natural that I would join an organization like Upward Bound House. Their strong leadership and partnerships make and improve the lives of homeless families with children.” 

“Tom has been an exemplary and generous supporter of Upward Bound House’s mission to help families break through homelessness and reestablish their lives,” said  Updward Bound Executive Director David Snow. “We are honored to recognize his leadership with our Humanitarian Award.”

Snow praised the Culver City and Santa Monica chambers for their “collective support of our mission to eliminate homelessness among families with children in our community and for individual members’ direct support of Upward Bound House. The business communities are a vital part of the solution to family homelessness and we are proud to recognize their partnership with us.” 

The shelter serves more than 150 men, women and children every day. For more information, go to upwardboundhouse.org or call (310) 458-7779.