About Casa de Amigos

In 1993, responding to concerns of patients, families, community leaders and other neighborhood residents for a safer environment, St. Vincent hired a community liaison to build relations between the Medical Center and the community.  Together, we established three Neighborhood Watch groups to collaborate with the Los Angeles Police Department with the goal of reducing the incident of drug selling, gang activity and other crimes.  Through its leadership and grass roots activities, St. Vincent Medical Center has empowered families in the community to take back ownership of the local area to make their neighborhoods cleaner and safer, so their children grow up in an environment less influenced by gangs, drugs and crime.

From the beginning, local families were also seriously concerned regarding the critical lack of public parks or other open space where children could play or study in safety after school.  Thus, in 1995, Casa de Amigos de San Vicente was established in a converted St. Vincent office building.  The Casa de Amigos program attracts between 70 and 75children daily, ranging in age from 6 to 18 years. Services are available to all regardless of race, creed, gender or national origin. The year-round, after-school program is open weekdays from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Casa de Amigos de San Vicente
167 South Alvarado Street
Los Angeles, CA 90057
213-353-9700