MUTUAL AID

The city of West Hollywood has a great and extensive Social Service Guide that is available to all residents. This Guide is always current, reprinted several times a year as service providers and volunteer opportunities are added or deleted. In this guide, community members are given a list of services ranging from financial support to mental health services. Unfortunately, many of these services do not have offices within West Hollywood. Examples include financial assistance from the Department of Public Social Services and mental health services such as Cedars Sinai Mental Health Although the printed guide is English only, contact numbers are provided for information in Russian and Spanish.

Residents can also seek out services or assistance at the West Hollywood City Hall. City Hall is open to the general public and residents of West Hollywood to aid in areas such as public housing assistance and business permits. The city also houses several community centers including the West Hollywood Community Center at Plummer Park. The Gay and Lesbian Center that sits just outside West Hollywood’s borders also provides endless services to “WeHo” residents. Both of these centers offer a gamut of services for all ages, from children to the elderly.

Aside from formal services, residents of West Hollywood turn to their neighbors and friends for mutual aid. Word of mouth is an excellent form of aid used among the Russian-speaking community of senior citizens. They inform each other of important dates and when food coupons are available at the West Hollywood Community Center.