At the CLARE Foundation's facility on Pico Boulevard, a haven for substance abuse victims, there's fresh paint on the walls. There's new flooring, new furniture and, officials hope, a new vibe.
“We tried to update the look and feel of the facility,” said Grace Lee, public relations representative for the Santa Monica-based nonprofit organization. “It looked very institutionalized. Now it looks warmer and more comfortable. ... The purpose was to update the look of our group room and men's facility because of how old it was.”
The renovations, covered by donations from a recent crowdfunding campaign, will be officially unveiled during an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday at the organization's center at 909 Pico Blvd., in Santa Monica.
The upgrades come at a time of transition for the social service agency, which operates a variety of residential, outpatient and prevention programs across the Westside.
Founded in 1970 to help homeless alcoholics on and around local beaches, CLARE has greatly expanded its reach over the years. At one point it received government funding to provide recovery services, although now it relies on grants and philanthropic community members.
CLARE is in the process of reducing its focus on social models of assistance, whereby clients connect with each other and discuss their experiences, in favor of a clinical approach that includes medication and other progressive treatments.
“Right now, we're a hybrid of those,” Lee said.
CLARE has altered its men's treatment facility in recent months, reducing the number of beds from 49 to 44 to make the space more comfortable and to improve client privacy. Those upgrades were part of a series of renovations initiated by a nonprofit that serves thousands of people each year.
The men's treatment facility, which the nonprofit owns, currently has 36 occupants, Lee said. CLARE offers stays of up to 90 days for hundreds of men each year at the center, which features living and office spaces as well as group and meeting rooms and an industrial-grade kitchen.
The improvements were backed by last year's crowdfunding campaign, which raised about $5,500.
“We want to create a space that reflects the optimism and enthusiasm of the CLARE recovery community,” reads the pitch on the fundraiser's Indiegogo page. “The proposed improvements are simple and cost-effective, but mean the world to our residential clients, whose lives depend on their ability to thrive in this space and the program.”
Meanwhile, CLARE's services are more comprehensive than they were even a few years ago. Insurance clients are now welcome there, a major change for the agency, Lee said. The organization also wants to foster impactful discussions about substance abuse in the community, holding annual “State of Addiction” forums.
The public's role in the success of CLARE remains large.
“We are fortunate to have so many generous friends and supporters in the neighborhood,” Executive Director Nicholas Vrataric said in a press release. “The community really empowers us to make these changes.”
