United Coalition East (UCEPP) was founded in 1996, to address the problems related to substance use disorder  (SUD) in the Central City East area of downtown Los Angeles, commonly known as “skid row.”

UCEPP’s mission is to engage the most vulnerable populations of Central City East to challenge systemic conditions and social disparities that threaten a healthy environment. UCEPP’s priority is to prevent and/or reduce the impact of substance use in the community by using grassroots research, assessment and innovative approaches to inspire social justice and positive change.

Community organizing and mobilizing is an integral part of our problem-solving process. For the past decade, UCEPP has partnered with community members to identify neighborhood problems and develop strategies to address them. To this end, UCEPP hosts numerous activities and planning meetings throughout the year with the aim of creating an environment that is conducive to wellness, neighborhood cohesiveness, and a sense of pride. UCEPP staff has encouraged community members to participate in local government with the goal of improving the manner of operation of local bars, liquor stores, and hotels in the community that are magnets for nuisance activity. UCEPP has conducted grassroots research and released policy briefs aimed at increasing public debate as well as influencing public policies.