02 Sep A HISTORY OF CRI-HELP
On May 1, 1971, CRI-Help, Incorporated opened its doors in two run down houses in Sun Valley, California. It wasn’t until December of 1972, that we were able to lease and move into our present location in North Hollywood, which gave us 64 beds for men and women. In 1975 we purchased the property with revenue from our first barbecue and the generosity of a strong supporter, actor Dennis Weaver.
The only assets CRI-Help, Inc. had when it started was a desire to help addicts. We wrote many rubber checks trying to pay bills and juggling the payroll.
From 1971 through 1973, our primary source of income was selling raffle tickets in parking lots and asking the community for donations of food and supplies. Our beginnings were hardly representative of good sound business principles, but the desire to provide a treatment program that could help people recover from addiction helped to sustain our unconventional ways. The first ten years consisted of clientele that were primarily heroin addicts with very little motivation for change, except for a few who are still clean and productive today.
CRI-Help owns and operates two facilities, Pfleger Center in North Hollywood, and Socorro in Los Angeles. Between the two facilities we are now able to provide 198 residential beds and an additional 15 in our Detox. In addition, we are able to accommodate approximately 100 men and women on an outpatient basis, as well as 40 sober living beds between both facilities.
Cri-Help has become well known throughout the United States and has held its reputation of excellent treatment, untarnished ethics, and commitment to integrity in service and professionalism. Over the past four decades, CRI-Help has watched virtually thousands of suffering, lost addicts come through the doors, leaving with a new sense of hope, direction and freedom.
Our commitment and desire to help addicts and alcoholics is still the priority that we have had since our opening in 1971. Our principles and ethics do not change; therefore our hope is that we will continue for at least another fifty years in service to the community and throughout the Los Angeles area. We are a success because of the superior staff and great support that we have received over the years.
We would like to thank you for your continued support and friendship over the years.
Warmest Regards,
Jack Bernstein,
President, CEO