Community Services

The Community Services Department enriches lives, advances equity, and empowers people to thrive by providing a dynamic array of social, cultural, recreational, educational, and housing programs and services developed with and for the community.

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(310) 458-8411
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Divisions

Administration

The Administration Division guides the Department’s activities to ensure access to the social, cultural, recreational, educational, and housing programs and services that meet the needs and interests of the community. Additionally, the Division leads the development of the Department’s budget and financial reporting, coordinates its communication and marketing outreach, and supports the Santa Monica Recreation & Parks Commission.

Community Recreation

The Community Recreation Division manages recreation and active-living programs at the City’s parks, beach, and recreation facilities. The Division offers aquatics programming at the City’s award-winning Swim Center and Annenberg Community Beach House, and oversees adult sports leagues, the Memorial Park Gym, The Cove Skatepark, and community classes and camps. Additionally, the Division develops policies and issues permits for use of facilities, BBQ picnic areas, sports fields, tennis courts, commercial fitness and athletic instruction, and community events.

Cultural Affairs

The Cultural Affairs Division works to sustain Santa Monica’s creative economy and facilitates access to arts and cultural opportunities. The Division administers four grant programs that support artists and activities provided by Santa Monica’s nonprofit arts organizations, and manages the City’s public art collection, arts programs that address issues of inequity and injustice, and the Annenberg Community Beach House. The division’s newest initiative, Art of Recovery, is a pioneering program that uses dynamic partnerships between creatives and other sectors to achieve the City’s recovery goals.

Housing and Human Services

The Division manages a portfolio of resources and services that address the needs of people experiencing homelessness, seniors, families and households struggling with housing stability and affordability.

By partnering with community stakeholders, lenders, developers and service providers, the Division works to ensure access to programs funded through the City’s Human Services Grants and income and rental support through the City’s Housing Authority to prevent homelessness.

The Division also provides direct services through the CREST program, the Police Activities League and at Virginia Avenue Park.

Community Services

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Tati Simonian

Art projection on iconic clock tower lights up the Promenade

Tati Simonian

Mini Fall Festival and Glass Pumpkin Sale returns to Virginia Avenue Park

Tati Simonian

Community Open House and Resource Fair Features Over 30 Local Service Providers

Tati Simonian

First-Ever Endless Summer C.A.M.P in Tongva Park and Americana in the Park Offers Free Art and Music for All Ages

Tati Simonian

Santa Monica Awards 56 Grants to Local Artists and Arts Organizations

Delana Gbenekama

Weekly Assistance with Nutrition and Health Care Access Available at Virginia Avenue Park Starting July 11, 2023