About
About Volunteers of America
Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA) operates Central City Recovery, a residential addiction treatment program at 2521 Long Beach Avenue in downtown Los Angeles. As part of VOALA’s broader Recovery & Re-Entry services portfolio, the program is positioned at the intersection of substance use treatment, homeless services, veteran support, and adult re-entry — recognizing that for many of the men served, addiction sits alongside histories of incarceration, military service, and prolonged housing instability. VOALA has served Los Angeles County since 1896 as a faith-based human services nonprofit.
Central City Recovery offers medically supervised detox and residential treatment, with downstream connections to VOALA’s broader recovery housing, employment, and case management services. Programming uses cognitive behavioral therapy and 12-step facilitation as primary modalities, layered with trauma-informed care for clients carrying PTSD, complex trauma, or chronic stress from years of street homelessness or incarceration. The program serves a population that includes adult men, veterans, seniors, court-referred individuals, adults living with HIV/AIDS, and clients with co-occurring mental health diagnoses.
The Joint Commission accreditation reflects external review of clinical, safety, and quality standards. Because the program operates as part of a public-mission nonprofit serving primarily low-income, justice-involved, and unhoused adults, it does not rely on commercial insurance reimbursement. Instead, services are funded through Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California), Los Angeles County contracts, federal grants, and philanthropic support. Financial assistance is available for qualifying clients, and many residents pay nothing out of pocket.
After completing residential treatment, clients can transition into VOALA’s Recovery Housing, Veterans Transitional Housing, or adult re-entry programs, providing a structured next step rather than discharging clients directly back to the environments where addiction took hold. Wraparound services include employment training, case management, and connection to long-term housing — all coordinated through VOALA’s broader service network across Los Angeles County.
- Joint Commission accreditation ensuring clinical standards for medical detox protocols
- Specialized programs for veterans requiring medically supervised withdrawal management
- Integrated treatment for HIV/AIDS patients needing medical monitoring during detox
- Court-ordered treatment track with structured residential programming
- Financial assistance and Medicaid acceptance for medically supervised detox services