What can I say other thank thank you, y'all helped me in so many ways back in my days from writing a resume n helping change my bad habits. Happy n glad y'all are still going strong n helping the homeless youth n I hope they appreciate all you guys do for them in the long run read more

Here's a dirty secret about Hollywood: it ain't really all that glamorous. I mean, sure--there are the premieres and the clubs. Some overpriced restaurants. But behind all of the glitzy glam, there's a lot more to see. A part of that is youth homelessness. There are 10,000 homeless youth living in Los Angeles. My Friend's Place helps about 1,800 of them per year; gives them food, a safe place to be during the day, educational opportunities, and case management. They're truly grassroots--100% privately funded, run by a dedicated group of folks, many of whom have been there for many, many years. It's one of those hidden-gem organizations that more folks should know about. They do incredible work with limited resources. Check 'em out and get involved! read more

I've been volunteering with My Friend's Place for close to a year now and I've nothing but the utmost respect for this organization, its staff, and the youth they serve. One of my favorite things about MFP is that it does not take any government funding or carry any religious affiliation. This allows MFP to function as a low-barrier provider of transformative education and basic services. If you walk through those doors and say your name is Donald Duck, they'll accept you for who you are and welcome you in. I think that genuine sincerity is rare. If you're looking to volunteer or get involved, don't hesitate to peruse the website or reach out to me directly! read more

My friends place is great they really do help, and give back, most organizations only give back 10%. But not my Friends Place. They really help, this is the only place I will ever donate to. Because I know how good and honest they are. I have been there, and you can tell that they really care about helping these kids that are in need. I live in Sun City, Ca. If anyone has cloths they want to donate contact me and I will pick up and take there. You can reach me at 951-491-1630. They always need men's cloth for sure. Thank you my friends place for really caring. read more

My Friend's Place - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I've been donating to My Friends Place (MFP) for 2 years now and they are by far my favorite charity, ever. No one does more fore these kids than MFP and the city of Los Angeles is so lucky to have them. Having myself been constantly threatened with homelessness as a child, I know how terrifying it feels to just have the threat, let alone be thrown out of my home like the clientele of MFP. They treat every part of being homeless as children and not having that home to return to, no matter what the circumstances. The moment they enter MFP the full spectrum of their needs are addressed: psycho, social, personal care for themselves and their pets. It's remarkable what MFP is achieving. Let's hope they are around for a long time to come and that their donations continue, and to increase in spades. Please consider putting your extra dollars to a wonderful service to these special kids and the city they're attempting to survive in. read more

Great place. A+. Helped me with my resume (Christina) and I got a very high paying job for my age. Everybody they hire to work here actually seems involved in their job. Like they WANT to work here. Good luck finding that everywhere you go. They'll help with whatever they can and refer you to whatever they cannot. GREAT place with caring souls, again...not common enough. read more

Hi just wanted to publicly say that My Friends Place is a place were young people feel comfortable safe and secure with no security there its a place were you get what you need if you need to see a case worker job coach councillor for what ever reason housing its all up there what I like about them they don't just sit there and do anything they offer workshops that is really needed and lab work computer lab all sorts of things and what I really like about the place is they let you be who you are and you don't have to act or be another way. Staff in there is All some since I meet mfp I can say I'm stronger and better so much better just a lot of motivation in there I prey that My friends place stay open 50+ more years. read more

Over the last 20 yrs, I've worked with a number of Homeless Youth Programs in the Hollywood Area... and My Freinds Place stands out. They work with each youth where they are at and take the time to develop trusting and caring relationships. They are as good as it gets... some places, churches and organization do alot of pompous talking... the Staff at My Freinds Place does the actual work... Bravo. read more

I am a retired child social worker with Los Angeles County. I wanted to help youth thru their orginization. I attended an initial interview and I was set up for a backround check which is standard. The agency wanted me to pay for the backround check. When I asked about this I was told, by a worker by the name of Tayler,"we do not pay for the Live Scan because we have so many volunteers". We only pay for our staff. I was really put off. She came across as very indifferent in her tone. For the work I have dedicated my life to as a CPS worker I felt disrespected. Save your donations for some other agency. Forget volunteering. read more

I'm on the Board of Directors of a nonprofit that runs Sober Living houses in Los Angeles' SFV. On Tuesday, July 23, 2013 I rang "My Friend's Place" (MFP) to offer the use of a vacant house we have, for their homeless clients. It is EXTREMELY difficult for "at-risk" youth to find housing in Los Angeles, because of the obvious need for a credit rating, security deposit, etc... There are a lot of homeless youth in the city who somehow manage to hold onto their jobs even though they're homeless, but still can't afford to pay for, and/or find a place to live. I rang MFP seven times, nobody answered the phone. Each time I tried a different extension, it went straight to Voice Mail. I think it was one of those "Virtual Office" type voice mails. Later that day I got a phone call from Taylor Wilkerson at MFP. She was very friendly and helpful. She suggested I go to their office in Hollywood and meet up with a Caseworker. I said I had been trying to do just that, and make an appointment - but she was the first to call me back. She said I should just come to their offices on Hollywood Blvd anytime, they'd be open until 5:30 PM. When I got to the office, the door was locked. There was a broken doorbell. I stood there until someone finally buzzed me in. I walked down a long, narrow outdoor courtyard. There was another entrance door, but it was also locked. Everything was enclosed in a kind of giant, outdoor cage. There were a few people in the courtyard/cage thing, but none of them knew Taylor Wilkerson, or how to access the upstairs offices. Right then, two large young men BURST out of the previously locked doors and RAN up on me. They looked like they were totally pumped on adrenaline: either very scared, or wanted to fight, or both. It was very, very strange - to say the least. They "escorted" me through the previously locked door to a receptionist's desk. He said he had no idea who Taylor was, and that they had closed at 3:30PM. I said, Taylor works upstairs and has her own phone extension, he might want to call her on it! She did also invite me to the office which is, in fact, open until 5:30. He kind of ignored me after that, so I went over and sat down in the lobby. About ten minutes later, Alexis McLeod came downstairs and identified herself as the Manager. She was very friendly and outgoing, but seemed to be very concerned about how I knew about their organization, if I knew any of the kids who go there, if I knew anyone who works there who would somehow already know me, what I "wanted" from MFP, etc. The whole time I got the underlying impression that nobody at MFP believed me, and they seemed very fearful and suspicious at all times. They simply couldn't take what I was saying at face value, and acted like I was actually there for some other, more nefarious (yet unknown) reason. I never made it to anyone's office, nor was I asked to sit down. When I got back to my office I Emailed Alexis McLeod with photos of the house and an URL for our Craig's List ad, so she could have photos of it for the Caseworkers. I also mentioned I'd rather not go back to their office because of my experience during the day at their office. The next day she Emailed me back and said their "Clinical Director" did not want to provide any of their clients referrals for the available housing. Instead of typing out Emails, I rang Alexis directly. She said there is no broken buzzer, the door was open, nobody "burst" out at me, everybody knows Taylor, I'm just being "overly dramatic", etc... I wound up hanging up on her. I rang back and asked for Taylor, because she had seemed more human and reasonable than Alexis. When Taylor picked up her phone, she immediately connected me right back to Alexis McLeod! Alexis told me that they considered the ONE time I visited their office to be "Harassment" (Even though Taylor set up the appointment), and that I also not ring them again because I am "harassing" them! Clearly these people are not used to dealing with the public, and would rather hide behind security doors, voice mail, surveillance cameras, and the like. They treated me like some kind of high-risk prisoner who should not be trusted in any way, and when I brought that up for her to acknowledge, she pretended I was threatening her, so that she could hide behind her job and accuse me of doing something wrong, instead! Not exactly the kind of behavior you'd expect from a charity that is supposed to be accountable for itself to the community. I'm glad that MFP feeds those kids (or whatever it is that they say they do), but the people I met who work at MFP act crazy and overly paranoid. I have no idea why they are so suspicious and fearful of outsiders, but I'd imagine it is because something else is going on in there, that they don't want people to find out about. Why else would MFP actively discourage someone from the community, who actually has something to offer their clients? read more

back in 1993 i got some socks, some snacks and a place to hang out with my friends here...i'm not sure if the location has changed but the picture looks different now...you could get a safe place to lay your head down on a table for a couple of hours and get also get tattoo in the same day...we would drink behind the building...it was a nice place...they weren't dogmatic...just provided a safer place than the street during the day...i dont know how things are now as it has been 20 years since i have been there...they did help me and my friends at the time...fond memories. read more

Wow, I'm very sad that I went from two stars to one star for this organization. They need to take a very, and I mean *very* serious look at the people they are employing here. Reading "Nancy's" filtered review written after my candid and honest experience speaks volumes in regards to their priorities. Second, "Nancy" I did state in my review that I had called in two months prior to when I wished to begin, which I also mentioned to Camilla over the phone. Clearly, I wouldn't expect to just "walk in" as you say, it is not my first time volunteering and I have also worked in organizations where volunteers are common. I know all about "Live Scans" (that's what they are called by the way, not "life scans") Calling two months in advance is not the same as a walk in...nice try though. Lastly, thanks for clearing up which reason you *ahem* "Camilla" finally settled on for not taking volunteers. I was extremely polite and kind over the phone and did not have any kind of attitude. I made it a point to be polite because I was interested in volunteering. I find it very distateful and unprofessional for this kind of organization or any for that matter, to shift blame elsewhere over a yelp review. I just read this because apparently another community member recently had a poor experience. News travels fast; therefore, my suggestion is for you guys to get it together before you have no one left to support your organization. And that would be completely unfair for the people you are serving. read more

I am a former client of My Friend's Place. I don't care what anyone says, this place is awesome! I admire the staff that work here and always have them close. In 2006, I moved to LA with no family members and no job. I was hoping that I could get a job if I was in LA instead of commuting back and forth from San Diego. I couldn't pay my rent and found My Friend's Place. I still communicate with them from time to time and they are still willing to help me, even though I am over the age limit. The staff work with violent and disturbed youth. They are not suspicious and edgy about people. They are very welcoming and polite. When I was there I felt sorry for the way the youth treated them but they always stayed professional and never lost their cool. That is why they inspire me to start my own non profit and I still look to them for guidance. And for people wondering why it is so secured, it is for everyone's safety. I will not allow anyone to bum this place down because it is too wonderful and needed. We need more organizations like this! read more

i have much respect for this youth organization i ran away when i was 15years old from texas if it wasnt for my friends place providing encouragement, food, clothes, an a place to feel like your somebody other than a bum or just lost i could have died or ended up in foster care or worse but thanks to the volunteers here at my friends place i grew up i was able to get up enough courage to go home and reunite with my family now i am 24 years old married with 3 children of my own and im glad that my friends place got to be a part of my experience in life. read more