Emotional Health Association

What Emotional Health Association does

SHARE! — operated as a project of the Emotional Health Association, a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Tax ID 95-6092809) — is a peer-run mental health, substance abuse recovery, and supportive housing organization serving Los Angeles County. Founded in 1993 in Venice, CA by individuals in recovery from trauma and mental health issues, SHARE! now operates two peer-run centers (Culver City and Downtown LA at 6666 Green Valley Circle and 425 South Broadway respectively), 44+ collaborative housing properties across LA County SPAs, a Recovery Retreat, and a Medi-Cal-approved Peer Support Specialist Training program. Its core service offering is the self-help support group: 100+ in-person, Zoom, and hybrid meetings are held weekly, supported by a 65+ strong lived-experience workforce and a lifetime base of 4,000+ volunteers.

The operating model blends direct service delivery with workforce development. The proprietary SHARE! PeerKit (12 Tools) codifies evidence-based peer-support practices, while the Advanced Peer Specialist training has prepared 800+ individuals for behavioral health jobs since 2016. Collaborative Housing provides immediate (24–48 hour) permanent supportive housing to 2,200+ mental health consumers annually on a $2 million annual budget; rents of approximately $600–$950 per month are collected directly from disability or other income by participating homeowners. The Recovery Retreat delivers a two-week intensive program free of charge, funded by LA County DMH.

Revenue is diversified across four streams: government contracts (LA County Department of Mental Health since March 2005, LAHSA, LA County Department of Health Services, LA County MVA via VPAN, and California DHCS via BHCIP), charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations (tiers from $100 to $5,000+ plus text-to-give), training fees ($1,600 per Medi-Cal Peer Specialist course participant with scholarships available, plus $300 CE courses), and housing rent (managed-services pass-through). Budget exceeded $5 million as of 2023, and the recent $3.3 billion California BHCIP grant award is funding a two-home, 25-bed peer respite expansion. Day-to-day operations are led by CEO Brian D. Ulf with senior leadership spanning COO/CHRO Lara Skutt, Director of Peer Services Maria Gonzalez, Director of Clinical & Peer Support Services Suzy Herbert, Director of Advocacy, Business Development & Training Jason Robison, and Director of Housing & Real Estate Thomas Haberkorn.

Name

Emotional Health Association

Legal name

Emotional Health Association

Website

https://shareselfhelp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SHARE! is a peer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating under the Emotional Health Association, founded in 1993, that delivers mental health and substance abuse recovery support, collaborative housing, and self-help groups to Los Angeles County residents, including veterans, transition-age youth, and older adults.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health & Recovery Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Community Housing Services (62422), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH)

Keywords

• Peer support services
• Mental health recovery
• Collaborative housing
• Peer support training
• Self-help support groups

Headquarters

HQ city

Culver City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts: Contracts with Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, and L.A. County Department of Health Services to provide housing, peer support, and recovery services
2. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations supporting recovery and housing programs
3. Training Fees: Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Training course fee of $1,600 per participant, with scholarships available
4. Collaborative Housing Rent: Residents pay approximately $600 to $950 monthly in fully-furnished homes from their disability checks or other income directly to homeowners

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Emotional Health Association is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that operates the SHARE! (Self-Help And Recovery Exchange) program, providing peer-led mental health and recovery services. Its core offerings include 100+ weekly self-help support group meetings, a Collaborative Housing program with 44+ homes, a Recovery Retreat, and a Medi-Cal certified Peer Support Specialist Training program, delivered through two peer-run centers in Culver City and Downtown Los Angeles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SHARE! Self-Help Support Group Meetings

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,200+ mental health consumers provided homes annually on $2 million annual budget
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Los Angeles County Department of Mental HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince March 2005, SHARE! has been the first peer-run contractor with LA County DMH. The department provides funding and oversight for peer support services, housing programs, and recovery initiatives across Los Angeles County. This partnership enables SHARE! to deliver evidence-based peer services through government contracts.
• Los Angeles Homeless Services AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAHSA partners with SHARE! to support the Collaborative Housing program, providing resources and coordination for housing individuals experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County.
• L.A. County Department of Health ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with SHARE! to support the Collaborative Housing program, funding permanent supportive housing initiatives for individuals with disabilities across Los Angeles County.
• Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHARE! was selected to lead the Veteran Peer Access Network (VPAN) Team in Los Angeles County's Supervisorial District Two in partnership with MVA. The partnership connects veterans with peer support, housing, mental health care, and VA benefits through trained veteran peer specialists.
• South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBCCOG partnered with SHARE! for peer respite projects as part of California's $3.3 billion BHCIP grant program. SBCCOG Board Chair Rodney Tanaka expressed support for the peer respite homes that complement the SHARE! Home to Employment program.
• LA City Council District 3 and Councilmember Bob BlumenfieldmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCouncilmember Bob Blumenfield and LA City Council District 3 partnered with SHARE! for the peer respite projects, representing the first peer respite home in the City of Los Angeles.
• Watts Senior CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHARE!'s United Mental Health Promoters host weekly groups at the Watts Senior Center, offering workshops in arts and crafts, technology, wellness, poetry, and storytelling for older adults.
• Westside Infant-Family Network (WIN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHARE!'s UMHP collaborates with WIN to provide monthly workshops creating opportunities for connection and growth for seniors and families.
• Emotional Health AssociationcoreOthersSHARE! operates as a project of the Emotional Health Association, a California 501(c)(3) corporation (Tax ID: 95-6092809). The parent organization provides governance and nonprofit status enabling charitable donations and government contracts.
• Southern California Grantmakers (SCG)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCG partnered with SHARE! and Los Angeles County MVA for the VPAN program expansion in Supervisorial District 2, supporting peer-led services for veterans.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Pacific Clinics: Large California behavioral health provider offering outpatient mental health, housing, and wraparound services — comparable peer-run and housing-adjacent programs across LA County.
• People Assisting The Homeless (PATH): LA-based nonprofit providing supportive housing and homelessness services — directly comparable to SHARE!'s Collaborative Housing program operating model.
• St. Joseph Center: LA-based social services nonprofit serving unhoused individuals and families with housing, mental health, and recovery supports — adjacent to SHARE!'s collaborative housing and peer support services.
• Tarzana Treatment Centers: Southern California behavioral health and substance use treatment provider — comparable as a peer-adjacent, LA County-contracted behavioral health operator with housing components.
• Chrysalis: LA-based nonprofit focused on poverty, homelessness, and workforce reintegration — comparable in target population (mental health consumers, unhoused individuals) and LA County contract footprint.

Direct peers

• Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services: LA-based mental health nonprofit providing crisis services, suicide prevention, and peer support — directly comparable as a Los Angeles peer-support and behavioral health provider.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Largest U.S. mental health grassroots organization running peer-led support groups and family-to-family education — directly parallel to SHARE!'s self-help meetings and lived-experience peer services.
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA): Peer-run support group network for mood disorder consumers — the closest direct analogue to SHARE!'s 100+ weekly self-help meetings built on a peer-led, lived-experience model.
• Mental Health America: National nonprofit focused on mental health education, peer support, and advocacy — directly comparable to SHARE!'s self-help support group and peer-run service model, though operating at national scale.
• Exodus Recovery: Peer-run mental health services organization based in LA County — directly comparable as a peer-operated behavioral health contractor to LA County agencies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2QGxQtnm7St2jssWNf5Muw
• Facebookfacebook.com/share.selfhelp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/share-selfhelp
• Instagraminstagram.com/share.selfhelp
• Xx.com/shareselfhelp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Emotional Health Association