Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 🎁

Together we approach the end of another year. Thinking of 2023, we want to kindly express a sincere Thank You to all of you who continually support our endeavor and mission. You are amazing! We are so appreciatve that you keep our nonprofit in mind as you give this year and past. Feeling a deep gratitude for remaining in business and being able to employ people with disabilitles, we were happy to give back and help rasie funds for Best Buddies Jobs.

We partnered with Mouth & Foot Painting Artists for our greeting cards. This card in particular brought forth a warm and encouraging feeling, which we hope to leave with you as we end 2023.

The experience of working with Julie at Best Buddies as the employment of Evan and Jacob continue is full of joy and goodness. Julie shared this with us.

Nancy and Guido demonstrate a deep and genuine commitment to the mission of creating and nurturing inclusive employment experiences for people with disabilities. They are truly an inspiration, embodying the philosophy of genuine inclusion for all members of our community. Their dedication to creating and sustaining LAHH, a non-profit business focused on employing people with disabilities, has resulted in meaningful employment opportunities for many in the LA area.  

While we feel humbled and still need to work to earn such priase, we are sharing this perspective out of esteem and respect for a peer and how together we are responding to the problem that still exists for people with disabilities to work.

The kindness of Julie to share her experience points to the underlying foundation of continual training and accommadations that grow and change with the person as they grow and change. It also indicates the postivie and fundamental impact that comes from a culture of inclusion which leads to success for our employees with disabilities.

We ask for donations this year to continue providing the necessary training and accommdations, which creates a stable workplace that can be a stepping stone for current and future employees. Some of you have already donated and for that we are filled with deep thanks which makes our goal of $10,000 already on its way. Thank you for including LAHH in yoru generous giving. We keep you and yours close.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are so grateful for your support and presence in our lives. We are truly better off because of you.

Thank you and have a beautiful holiday!

Thank you for supporting our nomination as Champion of the Year!

Although, we were not crowned Champions, we are so grateful to be part of the Best Buddies Jobs programs and we are always #Happy2GiveBack. Thank you for supporting us and Best Buddies!

Nancy and Guido have been nominated as Champions of the Year for Best Buddies 🏆

We have been involved with Best Buddies since 2019 through the Jobs program. 🌟 We support Best Buddies because of the amazing people they support to find jobs, especially Jacob and Evan who are currently working for LAHH. We are raising $3,000 for the Jobs program through November 9th. Please join us with your donation by clicking on the picture below. Thank you!

YEAR IN REVIEW

So much more than this…

So much more than what we can see and what we can do, became clear to us when a family member of one of our employees wrote, “You run LAHH with love and warmth. The beautiful way you have managed Los Angeles Habilitation House has affected how the employees treat each other and how my husband treats me when he gets home.” 2022 has definitely been a year to build, a year to adjust, and a year to embrace a different way of doing things.

And our colleagues with disabilities have helped provide a different and broader perspective for how to problem solve that is the basis for the positivity and hope we are feeling.

Back to the basics is necessary.

This year showed how much basic training is needed and necessary to provide workplace accommodations and supports for our colleagues with disabilities. We are learning new ways to make others feel welcomed and that our culture is open and accessible. We learned new ways to support and promote healthy and safe workplace practices and ask for your generous support again this year for our training and support fund.

Your tax-deductible donation will fuel our mission through 2023.

Thank you for considering LAHH for your end of the year giving.

We are happy and grateful for you.

Thank you for welcoming us to be part of your story. So many people with disabilities are left out and feel isolated. This year we have seen our volunteers and partners embrace us, as we are.

This makes a difference. Thank you.

May the joy of the Christmas holiday season bring this love and warmth even more into your life.

Guido & Nancy

We are celebrating #DisabilityEmployment

With October, just around the corner, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (#NDEAM), is almost here, so we are celebrating #DisabilityEmployment! Learn more here how you can participate. With NDEAM in mind, I want to share a recent conversation with the mother of one of our colleagues who is a person with disabilities. I was really helped by how she described what the job with LAHH means to her son:   

Feels Responsible

Very proud of his position

Has increased self-worth

He really likes the job

An important step for him

To put this feedback in context, when her son and I work together, interacting about the tasks of the day, such as the supplies that need to be refilled, in the small office building we’re cleaning, I am not aware of how he feels as he does not verbally express this.  We work through the problems before us, sometimes in complete silence, with little or no eye contact. Some days I hear about his weekend, while other days the only word I hear is, “okay.” 

Even though I did not hear first hand from our colleague about how he feels toward his job, I am certain that the feelings he expressed to his mother are possible due to workplace accommodations that in place, specifically to match his needs.

According to the July 2021 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employed persons with a disability were more likely to have requested a change in their current workplace to do their job better than were those with no disability. Such changes included new or modified equipment; physical changes to the workplace; policy changes to the workplace; changes in work tasks, job structure, or schedule; changes in communication or information sharing; changes to comply with religious beliefs; accommodations for family or personal obligations; training; or other changes. And the most commonly requested type of change was work tasks, job structure, or schedule, which is also true for employees at LAHH. 

Recently in an online class, I learned that in 1998, HUD, the federal housing authority, did not consider people with disabilities able to work, excluding them from the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998. What a false assumption! 

When I put all of this together, the feedback, the workplace accommodations provided, and that 24 years ago, our government had a major doubt on the employability of people with disabilities, I am reminded how special and unique it is to work with people who are disabled.  We invite you to celebrate with us #DisabilityEmployment!

- Nancy

Photo above: A class learning about how to be safe in the workplace.

Job Opening - San Diego - Contract Closeout Specialist

Los Angeles Habilitation House is seeking qualified and interested individuals for a job opening in Contract Administration in San Diego, CA.

Full Job Description

$23 - $25/hr

• Department: Contract Management Services

• Category: Contract Administration

• Location: San Diego, California, United States of America

• Citizenship Required: United States Citizenship

• Clearance Type: Secret or Clear Background Check for Interim Clearance

• Telecommute: Yes-May consider hybrid teleworking for this position

• Hiring Preference: Veterans with Disabilities

• Travel Required: No

• Type: Full time, Mon - Fri, 40 hrs per week, Flexible working schedule

 Los Angeles Habilitation House (LAHH) a 501c (3) nonprofit organization, offers employment, training, and career development opportunities to persons with disabilities. Our mission is to create and maintain job opportunities for person with disabilities that will help them to develop, express, and apply their talents and maximize their contribution in their community. 

 A fact that drives our mission - seventy percent (70%) of adults with a disability are unemployed in the United States. LAHH has been created to respond to the need for employment experienced by people with disabilities and be a place that breaks down the cycle of alienation and remove the barriers experienced by people with disabilities when they try to find a job.

Please provide history of employment reflecting a minimum of 3 years in the past 5 years providing routine administrative support services to include organizing, prioritizing, and completing multiple tasks in a specific timeframe. Have a minimum of 3 years of experience in the last 5 years in data entry on electronic systems, to include automated procurement systems, and a variety of computer software applications, as well as typing skills in the performance of duties, accurately, and quickly. Have a minimum of 3 years experience in the past 5 years with familiarity with acquisition procedures and applicable governing regulations.

 Demonstrated knowledge or willingness to learn FAR, DFARS, DFAS, and DCMA requirements for government Contract Closeout policies and procedures.  Prior examples of willingness to learn in similar areas is acceptable. Will require a user knowledge and willingness to learn, MS Office (Access, Excel, Word, PowerPoint), SPS, iRapt, EDA and OnePay or equivalent experience in government and, or commercial finance and accounting software.

 Must be able to obtain a security clearance. The security clearance process includes fingerprinting and completion of the Personnel Security Questionnaire (SF-86).

 Duties will include but not limited to:

·      When needed, will provide support when there are questions from other team members.   

·      Prepare government contracts and present to a warranted government-contracting officer for closeout.

·      Develop, produce and maintain measurement reports to reflect productivity of the closeout process presented at the bi-monthly closeout process reports.  The information contained in this report includes contracts received, contracts closed, and status of contracts being processed to include accountability of the folder as well as the stage that the folder is in at each point through the process.

·      Understand and use procedure for the Contract Closeout Specialists to receipt in and review all files upon arrival and inventory the contents.

·      Assist in establishing and maintaining the metrics or tracking as required to determine the process and time required to present a contract ready to be closed.

·      Coordinate with other offsite contract closeout sites for all closeout-reporting functions.

·      Will complete contract close out process as required by standard operating procedures and directed by supervisor or lead.

·      Determine if obligated funds match required payment or if there is an opportunity to de-obligate funds or a need to obligate additional funds with supervisor review.

·      Maintain 100% accountability of folder/documents throughout the close out process.

·      Assist in improving existing standard operating procedures to improve productivity.

·      Provide customer service required contracting officers concerning folders presented for closeout.

·      Must complete CON 100 through Defense Acquisition University prior to hire.

SUBMITTING YOUR RESUME

Please submit via email to Nancy Albin, Vice President, LAHH, nalbin@lahabilitationhouse.org - after submission and review, interviews may be scheduled.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Los Angeles Habilitation House, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, citizenship status, Vietnam era or special disabled veteran's status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. All employment is considered at will.

ABOUT

Los Angeles Habilitation House has the mission to create and maintain job opportunities for individuals with disabilities in order that they can develop, express, and apply their talents through their work and in their communities. LAHH is delivering exceptional services to government and commercial customers while providing valuable employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

LAHH began Contract Management Services through the AbilityOne Program in 2011. LAHH employees perform post-award contract administration in accordance with the FAR and DFAR. LAHH provides contract management services for the Naval Medicine Readiness and Training Command San Diego (NMRTCSD).

 https://www.abilityone.gov

I am forever and always grateful

On his last days with LAHH before staring a new job, Brandon shared…

In 2008 at 19 and a half, I went on an interview. Then on my birthday, when I turned 20 years old, I got the news that I was a new hire of a small janitorial company called Los Angeles Habilitation House (LAHH). This might sound crazy or cliche, but that was one of the best gifts that I received on my birthday knowing that I got a job. In that year job searching wasn't so good. With any job your gonna have your ups and downs. But it you, as a person, it's on you to overcome those ups and downs and those obstacles. In 2016 I became the 5th recipient of the outstanding cleaning worker of the year and went on a trip to New Mexico to receive the award. In 2017, I became a team leader. At the beginning of 2020, I became a supervisor. But as of July, 30, 2021, my janitorial journey has come to an end. I’m embarking on a new journey. They say 13 years is a long time. I am blessed and grateful for the opportunities, I was given a platform to be able to help inspire people. A company I'm blessed to have been able with and work on different sites with my coworkers. In Torrance and San Pedro, and of course, my building in Long beach. My message to the team is to continue to inspire others, because you never know who's watching and to my bosses, Guido and Nancy, you both took a chance on me when nobody else would. And I am forever and always grateful for everything that you have taught me.

Brandon and Steven have been working together at HRC LB since 2018. They often referred to how they worked together each day with basketball plays such as the daily game plan, editing the plays, and helping each other run the floor!

We want to welcome Ernesto to the HRC Long Beach Crew!! Ernesto was referred through Brandon who wanted to make sure to give a great partner to Steven for the journey ahead. Ernesto has prior experience working in janitorial and is excited to join the team.  

All of us at LAHH contributed to this word art for Brandon’s last day with LAHH!

Congratulations Brandon!

You are always and forever with us!!

LAHH celebrates helping others!

Jacob was given the “Passionate Heart for the Other” award today at Los Angeles Habilitation House during #BestBuddiesMonth!

About the award and Jacob 

The award “Passionate Heart for the Other” is named after Patrick O’Melveny who exemplified a passionate heart during his short, but beautiful life. Patrick worked with LAHH almost from the beginning and has made a lasting and meaning impact on our lives. The first award recipient was Kenny Samuels who is pictured holding the award with Jacob.

Jacob has been working with the janitorial team in Torrance, CA learning light duty, vacuum, and restrooms and doing a great job! Recently a team member stayed home for a few months due health complications. When this team member returned to work Jacob was attentive, compassionate, and extra helpful even to the point of slowing down his work to stay on pace with the team member in case he needed something during work. When we realized that Jacob was taking care to how this team member was doing on his first days back, we wanted to celebrate the kindness and generosity of Jacob who loves helping others.

Congratulations Jacob, a Best Buddies Jobs Participant, and thank you for showing us that kindness to others and helping others is the way to go!

Work and Love. 

We say’ Thank you’ Best Buddies and encourage everyone to learn more about what you can do for #BestBuddiesMonth!

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Dear Friends and Family, 

We have been working with the pandemic for 9 months at the writing of this letter, as have you. 2020 has been unique, to say the least.  We take a moment to remember those who have passed away this year as for us at LAHH it has been personal. We have kept all of you in our hearts and prayers this year, in a more intense way than previous years, because while living life during the pandemic we have been reminded, many times, that life is a gift, yet fragile, and unable to be controlled. We also found that facing the pandemic together makes it easier, then facing it on our own. While the mental toll has been high on all of us, we are very humbled that all of our employees were able to go to work this year, knowing many people have lost their jobs. 

As we look back on this year, we see that our communities and employees have blossomed, because they contain something within themselves that is similar to resilience, vitality, and creativity. We were supported throughout the year by our communities, several of which were the first to bring up the question, “How are you preventing the spread of the coronavirus?” Asking that question reminded us of our belonging.  

We are very grateful for each and every donation and please know that we do not take for granted your generosity and thoughtfulness toward LAHH. LAHH is a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose tax-identification number is 20-8579946. All donations will receive a tax receipt via email or mail, depending on how we are in touch. 

Thank you for thinking of us and we wish you a joyful and wonderful Holiday Season!

Nancy & Guido

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Celebrating our colleagues with disabilities and all people with disabilities! Having worked at an organization where the majority of the employees are people with disabilities, we can attest to a work place that is more gentle, safer, and happier. We encourage all businesses to commit to fostering a more inclusive workforce, one in which all people are recognized for their abilities and talents.

Thank you to all our Outstanding Cleaning Workers and Supporters!

 “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead

“How great to see you both doing a work that brings justice to the world. Custodial work makes the world ordered and safe and makes all other work possible. It is the work of God! And to honor it with a ceremony (& ice cream) is the antidote we need to the pandemic. Like Guido said, “thank you,” to your employees and to you! ”

— James

“Thank you for having us and for making a difference in the lives of these men! It was really wonderful to witness during the LAHH award ceremony the gaze of Nancy & Guido for each one of their employees and to remind us the importance of their jobs in keeping all of us safe, now more than ever. And in return witnessing the joy on the LAHH crew to be recognized for what they do as essential workers, along with their gratitude to be seen, appreciated and employed in these unprecedented times was priceless!!”

— Ségolène

“I had the privilege to attend the LAHH Outstanding Worker Cleaning Ceremony. Even though all the other janitorial companies cancelled this kind of event because of Covid, Nancy and Guido decided it was so important for them and their employees that they held it, on a smaller scale and with all the safety measures in mind. Since the beginning of this pandemic all the LAHH employees are considered essential workers. The gratitude towards them was so great that Nancy and Guido felt it was right to give the award to all of them instead of just a few. Friends and families were there and also customers of LAHH. A people brought together by “Gratitude”.
Guido spoke a few words that were really true and beautiful. He explained that he wanted to say “Thank you” to them but in the deepest meaning of the word. From the latin “gratia” which means “grace”. He explained that every single one of the workers was a “grace”, a “blessing” that keeps enriching all of our lives. Everybody was attentive, family members were videotaping, customers were clapping, something so true and exceptional was happening that was palpable.
The gaze Nancy and Guido have on their employees and the affection they get in return are signs of a new humanity that was happening in front of my eyes and that is so attractive that I want it in own life.”

— Silvia

Celebrating on September 9, 2020 the Outstanding Cleaning Workers at LAHH!

Since 2001, the Simon Institute has been honoring cleaning workers with the Outstanding Cleaning Worker Award during a banquet award dinner. LAHH honored their first outstanding cleaning worker in 2012, Bryan Cosajay, at the Simon Institute Symposium in New Orleans, Louisiana. Each year as the award banquet got under way, Mr. John Walker would remind us all that are roughly 2.5 million cleaning workers who were going to work and performing simple tasks that make a difference in the lives of so many people the next morning. The Simon Institute has recognized from the beginning the importance of each person in the cleaning industry and included in their Philosophy of Cleaning, “Treat cleaning workers as first class citizens.” This recognition is something that Nancy and Guido identified with when starting LAHH. During the pandemic, we have seen so many cleaning workers continuing to work and change the way they clean to meet CDC and public health guidelines and keep people safe.

There will not be Simon Institute Symposium this year due to the pandemic, but we could not pass up the opportunity to say “Thank you” and “We love you” to our employees with disabilities who are Outstanding Cleaning Workers!

Here are some of our previous winners!

ANACT tote bags behind the LAHH Pasta Lab logo

I first started following Brianna Kilcullen through her kickstarter campaign and loved the one-of-a-kind hemp-based towels and tote bags! I use both and highly recommend them. The tote bags are a one-of-a-kind hemp-based reusable tote bag, made of 55% hemp 45% organic cotton, machine washable, and we identify with how Brianna and the wonderful team at ANACT are “taking simple acts to use Earth's natural resources to make products that solve everyday problems.”

The simplicity to look at the world around us and respond connects to our history at LAHH by recognizing the need for work experienced by people with disabilities and starting a nonprofit to directly hire people with disabilities. 80% of LAHH employees are people with disabilities who otherwise would not be working!

The logo for the pasta lab comes from the First Paladeno Family Cookbook in America, currently not available for sale, but will be soon. The drawings in the cookbook are by Rebecca Pacheco, a cousin to a former colleague, who felt moved by our mission and wanted to offer her artistic abilities to bring alive the recipes with characters drawn with pencil and charcoal.

The logo is a chef carrying a big bowl of pasta from the kitchen into the dining room table to share with his family and friends. We smiled noticing the big spoon he is also carrying because pasta has to be served and eaten immediately.

We are giving away the ANACT totes with our pasta chef to announce our pasta lab which will be offering free fresh homemade pasta samples for a limited time. We look forward to enjoying fresh pasta together soon!

The Beautiful Faces of LAHH

How we are living this moment of history | May 2020

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Thank you for your generosity and continuous donations to our mission.

How and where we train our employees with disabilities at LAHH is changing due to the new social distancing measures in place. We will be expanding training hours and locations to keep everyone safe and healthy. What we use to be able to do in one training session, will now take two training sessions at different locations.

We believe that training while employed is one of the key success factors for success, now and in the future, for people with disabilities, so we are committed and continuing to provide training. Thank you for your support for training!

We are seeing an opportunity for people with disabilities who have several years of experience in janitorial building services to provide detailed restroom cleaning, quickly, efficiently, and safely, leaving the restroom sanitized for employees and customers. We are pilot testing this service now and plan to roll it out to new and existing customers soon.

If you would like to donate to the start up costs of this new project, please click here.

Thank you for your donations and friendship and sharing with us in this adventure! 

LAHH recognized with HIRE Vets Gold Award 2019

The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is the only federal-level veterans’ employment award that recognizes a company or organization’s commitment to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development.

Matson - Pacific Expertise and Generosity

LAHH received a generous donation from Matson Giving and we want to say thank you!

Thank you Matson Navigation Company for your generous support for our mission to create and maintain jobs for people with disabilities! Sailing into the end of a great year with Matson!

LAHH Janitorial Team at USCG LA LB Base achieves Green Program of Merit

We are very proud of ourLAHH Janitorial team at USCG Base LA LB who worked very hard to achieve a Green Program of Merit! The audit took place August 1st in Command, Medical Clinic, and Sector.

Here the short story of this event and the photos of the plaques we presented to the Commanding Officers at Base LA LB Command Building and Sector Building as this is an achievement for everyone!

October 2019 Newsletter

Anthony is Outstanding!

The 18th Annual Simon Institute Symposium, Cleaning Industry Awards, in Park City, Utah honored cleaning workers. The highlight of the Symposium is the honoring of the Outstanding Cleaning Workers. Guido and I nominated Anthony for this prestigious award because he continuously demonstrates the willingness to help others and improve at his job. Read the full story here.

OS1 Green Program of Merit.

The audit results are in and we are proud to share that the LAHH USCG LA/LB Custodial Team achieved a milestone! Mike, Bryan, Dave, Omery, and Keene were excited when the audit results came in - we had achieved an OS1 Green Program of Merit! Read the full story here.

Achieving & Exceeding!

The closeout team at NMCSD does it again by achieving and exceeding the annual goal for closeouts in Fiscal Year 2019! Read the full story here.

Welcome Jacob!

After graduating from Project Search with Best Buddies, Jacob joins the cleaning team at LAHH! Read the full story here.