Youth helped by Los Angeles Youth Supportive Services tell their stories in their own words:

Michael A. (July 24, 1999) Dear Mr. Jason Wittman, I’m writing you this letter of appreciation to let you know how thankful and grateful I am to have know you over the past 4½ years. You have helped me out in ways that nobody else would have ever thought of. I can recall some incidents where you acted as a friend and helped me get through the most painful times and the times when I needed you the most. I can recall the time in 1996 when I was 16½ years old. I became extremely sick from shooting up “Crystal Meth” and partying for 2½ weeks. I was weak and vomiting and couldn’t get myself to a hospital, I called up all of my so-called fiends/homeboys to try to get a ride from the apartment to the “Children’s Hospital Los Angeles” but they were all to busy partying to give me a ride anywhere. I found your business card in my wallet and decided to call you after I ran out of people to ask for help. I called you after 12 A.A. Saturday morning and let you know my situation and asked you for that one emergency ride to the hospital. When you did arrive at my apartment, I was so weak I needed for you to carry me to your van. When we finally did arrive at “C.H.L.A.” you stayed with me the full 3½ hours that the doctors kept me. I realized that night that you were a good friend and not just somebody who parked his white van on Santa Monica Boulevard/Orange Avenue passing out free condoms. I remember in March of 1997 when I was raped by a “trick” in the “Hollywood Vine Motel.” I called you from the hospital and let you know what happened. You went to the hospital and stayed with me to comfort me while the doctors took evidence samples and pictures of my injuries. Just be you being there with me means a lot too me. Afterwards, you started pushing me to talk about the rape when I tried to forget it ever happened to me. I was able to get over the rape because you pushed me to talk about my feelings towards it, let out all my pain & anger through tears instead of revenge or drug use. In January 1998 you pushed me harder to get off the drugs and alcohol. Somehow you always talked me into going to an A.A. or N.A. meeting with or without you. In March 1998 I became clean & sober once again. If you hadn’t pushed me or believed in me, I probably would never know what sobriety feels like. Even for the short time that I have remained off the drugs & alcohol for the year of 1998. In the beginning of 1999 I ‘slipped”and relapsed. You still didn’t look at me as less of a person or an idiot. Instead, you gave me tips & suggestions on relapse prevention. I just want to say thank you for not turning you back on me even though I can be stubborn a lot of the time. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me over the past 4½ years that I have known you. I hope you continue doing an excellent job and keep up the good work at “Los Angeles Youth Supportive Services.” Your Client, Michael A.

Tony (January 1998) Jason, How's it going? Still out there? Well, I hope so. This letter is long overdew. I'm writing to thank you. To give you thanks for being in my life. The time I did in LA for my regretfull drug abuse and hustling was my lowest. You and the LAYSS van gave me shelter and security for a couple of hours. That was enough to help me the rest of the night to deal with my problems. Your services was something someone like me looked forward too. When the streets were too unbearable, you where there to help me reflect on the things that I was doing and on my life. Needing someone to talk to? You where there, understanding and listening without passing judgement on my stupidity. Thank you for listening. I'm doing good. I'm working. I'm a security officer with an international company. I have my own apartment and my own things. I've been clean, off drugs, for a year and going to NA meetings. I live in a small town in Texas. Everything is going very well. Thank you. I hope you and LAYSS continues. I believe it's important. There are other Tonies out there on the streets wanting to step out of the gutter and become something of worth to themselves. Very Gratefull, Tony

Edward O. (June 1996) Dear Jason Wittman, I am writing this letter to give you thanks for everything you've done for me. I think without you I wouldn't be where I am now, and that is living back at home with my family, attending school and getting decent grades, and gaining control of my life. I'm now able to set goals and plan my future because I always had you by my side. I believed every word you said and when I was ready to change my life you were there to guide me on the right path. I think or should I say, I know I'm never going to forget you Because you were always there for me even when I was in deep trouble. I know I never thanked you for visiting me in Juvenile hall, so that's why, I'm writing this letter to thank you for everything you've done. I know I keep repeating myself, but I just can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me. I hope you keep on doing outreach because there is a lot of people who need you in the streets who are going through some real bad problems. Well this is all for now. Thank you, Edward O.

Carlos (April 21, 1995) Jason Wittman M.P.S. L.A. Youth Supportive Seivice 922 N. Vine St., Suite 207 Hollywood, CA 90038 Dear Jason Wittman, M.P.S., I write you this letter to give you my gratitude for the professional service that you rendered to me in time of most need when for whatever thecircumstances I ended up on the corners of Santa Monica Bi., selling not only my body but my dignity also. Thanks to you and your dedication I have been in foster home for almost five months, and have rediscover the real me, which is to be a productive citizen, and go to school so that I can get a good education and go to college to become what I'm meant be, which is a lawyer. I will never forget the first night when I met you in the youth supportive van which parked in the corner of Santa Monica Bi, and La Brea, which at that time I had been in the streets for about a week. The reason I went to the van was simply because people told me that you gave free bus tokens, but who would have known that the beginning of a revolution in my life was about to take root. The greatest thing that has happen to me was to have met you because you have not only been a social worker to me but like a father also. I'm glad to tell you that all my plans are coming out as I want them, and specially my grades which are at their highest point. I can't start to tell you of all the uncountable things that you did for me, but there are some that I will never forget, like when you helped me get that job at Williams Sonoma which was the second most successful after the foster home to keep me of the streets. I now that I can continue to write about so many things that you have done not only for me but for many, but I do remember one night when you talked to me about making up my mind about the going into the foster home. To tell you the truth I wasn't planing to hang on to the idea of a foster home, but that night you told me something that was so powerful that changed my life for ever, you made me realize that the life that I was living was unrealistic, and reminded me about my real goals which are to be you could be, not the army but a lawyer It may just be that I can't thank you enough for all your time and dedication that you took to help me reshape my life, but I do now one thing that you are the greatest! Sincerely, Carlos

Bobbi & Chris (6/18/96) Dear Jason Wittman, We wanted to write ou a letter of thanks to let you know just how much Cris & I really appreciate all you're hard work and dedication to not only us but all of our friends on the street also. You've always been there to talk to us when we were at our lowest, to give us food when we had nothing to eat, to give us good advice when you thought we were making the wrong decisions, to give us your last bus token when its all you had just to make sure we made it home okay. If this world had more Jason Wittmans there would be a least amount of kids on the streets. Once again thank you always, Jason. We love you! Thanks Always, Bobbie & Cris

Shadow (5/1/95) Dear Jason, I just wanted to leave you with this letter to let you know that if it were not for you and your organization, I probably would not be getting the good life I am about to live. When I first came to you I had nothing. I wasn't able to save any money because I kept spending it, but because you offered your service to me I was able to save enough to get off the streets permanently. Now I'm off to N.Y.C. with enough savings to help me create a new life for myself. Granted, it will be rough, but I have confidence.So thank you and you'll here from me soon. Shadow P.

Scott (May 5, 1995) Dear Jason, I am writing this letter because I have so many things to say. First, I want to thank you for all the support and advice you have given me in the last year. You caring attitude and generous spirit is more than I could ever have asked for. You've spent countless hours with me that you could have spent contributing to your own life. Yet you spent the time with me to help me better mine. I don't know how I can repay you. I hope this letter will serve as a reminder of just how much I appreciate your ongoing contribution to my life. I remember first meeting you. I was a street hustler; a person with little respect for ones self. When you first saw me on the street you opened your arms and welcomed me. You did not criticize me yet gave me a sense of comfort. Your understanding of my situation and problems helped me to build an enormous amount of trust that I hadn't had in anyone in a long time. When ever I had a problem or even a question, you were always there. So many times I called you at awkward hours, instead of asking me to call you at another time, you stopped what you were doing and dealt with my issues. Many times you gave me advice and you know as well as I do that I had a tendency to ignore your suggestions. But when I decided to open up my ears I began to realize that your ideas were not so bad after all. Contrary to what I thought at the time they were and are still suggestions that help me deal with everyday life. You've helped me to understand myself more than anyone has ever done before. I've gone to may counselors you name them Social Workers, Psychologists and yes even Psychiatrists. Many of these individuals just caused me to become even more frustrated and less open to positively in my own life. I thought I would never understand why I do the things I do. Yet I think I now have a better understanding of my life and the issues that surround my everyday decisions. I know that I am responsible for my own judgements and that others should not be blamed for my mistakes. I had a hard time admitting that I was wrong but now I know that I have control over my own life. Jason you helped me to get off the streets as well as many other people. You've pushed me to better myself and I have. I'm returning to college and have separated myself from the many negative factors that were previously apart of my everyday life. You made me realize that I am someone special. I hope you can continue to help others as you have already helped me. No one could ever replace you. May you grow stronger in you abilities and continue you life long committment to helping others. Without your insight into my life I don't think I would ever be as strong as I am today. From the bottom of my heart I wish you nothing but the best. I will never forget you as long as I live. THANKS... YOU ARE TRULY ONE OF A KIND.. Sincerely, Scott Jaome