In 1996, Reverend Richard Reed initiated community outreach and recovery efforts in the South-Central area. He soon realized that people dealing with drug and alcohol addiction, homelessness, and mental health problems lacked adequate support services. With the guidance of his mentor, Reverend Cecil “Chip” Murray, and the support of his family, Reverend Reed founded First To Serve. In 2002, they opened a state certified15-bed substance abuse and transitional housing facility in South Los Angeles.

Today, First To Serve, Inc. provides needed resources for hundreds of thousands of thousands in the homeless communities by providing supportive housing facilities throughout Los Angeles. First To Serve also offers domestic violence housing for single women and women with children. First To Serve continually develops partnerships with local, state, and federal resources to extend services to underserved communities.

Our programs serve people during some of the hardest moments of their lives. This work requires compassion, documentation, privacy, and coordination. FTS supports practical solutions that help people move from crisis toward stability. We support partnerships that increase safe shelter, expand housing access, strengthen behavioral health and recovery support, protect survivors of domestic violence, and reduce returns to homelessness.