Regina and Steve Weller are first pastors of the Four Square Church in Venice and second are Chaplains for the Los Angeles Police Department’s Homeless Task Force.

They help homeless help themselves. First time Update talked with Steve was when he talked briefly with homeless occupying bus bench at Lincoln and Washington. Update was surprised he had one or two committed to going into VA housing and another ready to go home. It is a process for each individual and longer then what was just stated. See story below.

Update asked Steve for some of the stories. He said Regina, his wife, had several stories written. Update will publish one each week. Names of homeless will always be fictitious.

The Wellers do not solicit funds. They were using their own pension monies until Venice Stakeholders Association gave them $5000 and since a few other contributions have helped. If anyone would like to donate, mail check to Chaplain Steve Weller, 1400 Riviera Ave., Venice 90291. All donations go directly to helping the homeless.

Chaplain and Pastor Regina Weller is shown below with her story of Daryl.

Daryl Returns Home

By Regina Weller
During our regular Homeless Task Force deployments, we began to interact with a young man of large stature who was homeless, living in Venice for several years on Ocean Front Walk and Park Avenue.

Daryl had come out from Michigan in 2011, with the blessing of his family, to attend College for the purpose of advancing his career as an artist. Somewhere along the line, he fell short of his goals and went down the wrong path.

You couldn’t miss Daryl, not only because of his size, but because he always appeared to be agitated, hyper-amped and wild-eyed. Daryl had in fact experimented with the latest designer drug to come on the market in 2011 and had become addicted to “bath salts”. The symptoms of bath salt abuse are closely related to that of cocaine or methamphetamine addiction.

Over five months’ time, with regular visits to the boardwalk, Chaplain Weller was able to establish a positive relationship with this man. The Chaplain continuously encouraged sobriety. Daryl always declined.

However, on one particular early morning visit, Daryl agreed to have breakfast with his Chaplain friend and responded favorably to the idea of changing his life and returning home. He stated that he was worn out and that he missed his family, especially his praying grandmother.

The Chaplain was given permission to contact Daryl’s sister in Michigan to ensure family support upon his return. It was further explained to Daryl that he needed to clear up his seven warrants prior to leaving the state of California. Daryl went to jail for a day to clear up his warrants, and a call was made to his probation officer for permission to return to Michigan. Permission was granted.

With 30 days clean from bath salts, Daryl was ready for the trip to Kalamazoo, Michigan, and some of the Venice community came alongside to financially support him.

On May 29th, LAPD Beach Detail officers and Chaplain Weller arranged transport and he was delivered to the downtown greyhound bus station. A three-day meal voucher was provided with the bus fare, all paid for by Mark Ryavec and the Venice Stakeholders Association.

The day Daryl arrived, his grandmother called to say thank you to all who helped her grandson finally return home to safety. It was reported to us recently that Daryl is working in his father’s business.