Our History

The Late 1800’s

Ballington and Maud were social reformers who had a deep understanding of philanthropy and the desire to serve. They pledged to “go wherever we are needed, and do whatever comes to hand.” With this as their guiding principal, on March 18, 1896 in New York City, they announced the birth of a new organization dedicated to serving the spiritual and material needs of the poor and disadvantaged: Volunteers of America. Later that same year they opened a Mission Hall and a home for orphaned children in Downtown Los Angeles.

The Early 1900’s

In turn-of-the-century America, there was no shortage of work to do. The Volunteers moved into tenement districts to care for people in poverty. They organized day nurseries and summer camps, provided housing for single men and women. Maud Booth, became known as the “Little Mother of the Prisons”. She recognized the value of providing social skills and acclimation courses in order to avoid recidivism. Maud’s commitment to improve parole procedures and the conditions of prisons, and to incorporate social skills development was instrumental in changing the entire U.S. prison system. Maud also established the first halfway houses, known as Hope Halls, which helped former convicts readjust to society in a safe, supportive environment.

1930 – The Depression

The Great Depression of the 1930s stretched the nation’s private social welfare system almost to the breaking point. Volunteers of America mobilized to assist the millions of people who were unemployed, hungry and homeless. Relief efforts included employment bureaus, wood yards, soup kitchens and “Penny Pantries” where every food item cost one cent. In Los Angeles, other charities sought out Volunteers of America to take over their programs, resulting in the acquisition of a Women’s Home, a Men’s Home, a Reading Room at Fifth and Crocker, and several other properties throughout Los Angeles County.

1940 – Wartime

Volunteers of America served proudly on the home front during both world wars. The group operated canteens, overnight lodging and Sunday breakfasts for soldiers and sailors on leave. Affordable housing and child care were provided for defense industry workers. Further, Volunteers of America spearheaded community salvage drives during World War II, collecting millions of pounds of scrap metal, rubber and fiber for the war effort.

The 50’s and 60’s

Volunteers of America had evolved from being an evangelical mission to that of being a well-established human services agency with programs designed to enhance the ability of individuals to return to independent, self-sufficient lives in their community. In 1957, Volunteers of America initiated their professional research and treatment of alcoholism. A three-year project funded by the federal government demonstrated that Skid Row alcoholics could be successfully treated. By 1958, a fleet of vans was added to the Men’s Industrial Program and the Men’s Rehabilitation Center. Our special mission in housing dates to our organization’s founding. Volunteers of America helped accelerate real estate development during the 1960s by taking part in numerous federal housing programs. Since 1968, Volunteers of America developed over 300 affordable housing complexes in more than 30 states. A Parent Child Center in Harbor City was opened in 1968.

The 70’s and the 80’s

With the help of a community fund drive in 1970, Volunteers of America purchased a 500 unit apartment complex in North Hollywood and built the Maud Booth Family Center for childcare and family services. In 1971, Volunteers of America became the first non-profit organization funded for the Federal government’s Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound programs. With continued focus on serving youth from risk-filled environments, Positive Alternatives Program was started, providing drug abuse prevention and education for children in schools and community centers. A Senior Nutrition Program was started in Long Beach in 1973, providing meals to the homebound and congregate meals at ten sites for low-income elderly. VOALA would become one of the largest providers of home-delivered meals in Los Angeles? With the help of actress Jan Clayton, the VOALA Jan Clayton Center for alcohol and drug addiction recovery was opened in 1978. In 1982, Ballington Plaza Apartments provide an oasis for the frail elderly and handicapped residents of Skid Row. The Transitional Recovery Program began in 1983, providing residential supervision, vocational counseling and job placement referrals to young men and women preceding their release to the community on parole status.

The 1990’s

We opened our first Head Start programs in the San Fernando Valley, serving over 700 children. Gradually growing throughout the next ten years to 4000 children and over 50 facilities throughout the Los County area. The Upward Bound Program expanded from three schools to eight schools serving over 300 students. A program to provide companion pet care to low-income seniors began in 1995 as part of the Senior Nutrition program. By merging with the Huntington Youth Center in 1996, Volunteers of America provides shelter to runaway and homeless children in Huntington Beach. 1996 marked our centennial and a hundred years of service in Los Angeles.

2000 – The Turn of Another Century

As the years went by, Volunteers of America evolved from being an evangelical mission to a well-established human services agency. Our services continue to evolve with the changing times, however we still retain the essence of Maud and Ballington’s mission. VOALA continues to this day as a faith-based organization with a broad scope of support and services for all regardless of race, gender, age or religious preference. Now in our second century of service, Volunteers of America is one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive human services organizations, touching the lives of more than 2 million people each year in hundreds of communities across the United States.