The Peggy Albrecht Friendly House on Normandie Avenue – the first residential substance abuse program in the country for women – celebrated becoming a fully licensed treatment facility this month, which allows the nonprofit to expand services to more women in need.

Peggy Albrecht, executive director of the Friendly House, City Council President Herb Wesson, chairman and CEO of Hankey Group and assistant executive director Monica Phillips.
(photo courtesy of the Friendly House)

“We are able to open our doors to help more women, as we are now able to take insurance for treatment,” said executive director Peggy Albrecht.

The Friendly House is also celebrating expanded services thanks to a partnership with Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson, 10th District, who helped orchestrate a donation of a new van.

Albrecht said the van is “so essential” to get clients to doctors appointments, court appearances and other meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous, which are held outside of the Friendly House.

“I appealed to City Council President Herb Wesson and told him of our need,” Albrecht said. “He came out and met residents and saw the facility and [acquiring the van] was the next thing he did.”

Albrecht said the donation strengthens relationship between the Friendly House and the city council.

“Herb has been here on several occasions and supports the work we do,” Albrecht said. “He’s always available to take my phone call.”

Vanessa Rodriguez, Wesson’s communications director, said the council president recognized a need to transport women seeking services for Friendly House and immediately got to work. He started reaching out to constituents who could help, and started talking with Don Hankey, billionaire chairman and CEO of the Hankey Group. Hankey agreed to donate the van to Friendly House for free.

“My favorite days are the days our community comes together to help one another,” Wesson said in a Facebook post about the van.

The council president heard about the Friendly House from Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, 13th District, and was moved by the good work they’ve accomplished.

Albrecht said Friendly House has served more than 10,000 women. It was the first residential program in the country for women recovering from substance and alcohol abuse when Bea Jorgensen opened it in 1951.

The Friendly House was founded to help women return to or build healthy families and communities, to reclaim dignity and acquire the knowledge, support and resources to maintain a drug-free life.

The Friendly House offers daily group therapy, nightly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, weekly process groups, weekly case management meetings and yoga.

Albrecht said other organizations have since taken the Friendly House’s example and replicated it around the U.S. and in Europe.

Albrecht was working at a Fortune 500 company before the Friendly House needed a new executive director. In 1984, she thought she could fill the role for six months.

“That six months turned into 32 years,” she said. “It’s unbelievable watching the women that come through Friendly House blossom into supporters of their community and good citizens, back with their families, giving back to society.”

The Friendly House will host its annual luncheon on Saturday, Oct. 29 to honor Robert and Linell Shapiro with the Humanitarian Award. Approximately 600-700 people will attend the fundraiser at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, located at 9876 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills.

The Friendly House is located at 347 S. Normandie Ave.