Our Mission

Through the use of God’s Word and teachings, proven recovery techniques and community resources, Dare U To Care’s mission is to successfully treat men and women battling substance abuse, restore healthy family relationships, develop and improve necessary coping and life skills, and improve the communities in which all these people live.

Our History

In 1993, after spending 17 years as a day care provider (and even more as a foster mom), Ruth Hamilton was moved by the Holy Spirit to make not only a change in her life, but also make a different kind of difference in the lives of many she had yet to meet.

She saw first-hand the struggles of far too many drug—and alcohol-addicted mothers. These women were burdened with daily trials of their sobriety, parenting skills, and their needs for suitable housing, educational opportunities and living-wage jobs.

The Lord called Mrs. Hamilton to become “part of the solution” for these overlooked and underserved women.

Supported by her husband, Thee Ron Hamilton, a local (now retired) postal supervisor, Mrs. Hamilton successfully completed studies at the Crenshaw Christian School of Ministry in 1992, and Charles R. Drew University in 1994.

Now armed with formal training in drug and alcohol counseling – in addition to their generous hearts – the Hamiltons purchased their first Dare U To Care facility, located at 316 W. 120th St. in South Los Angeles. The program became licensed by the state of California in 1995, and received its certification in 1998.

By God’s grace, and despite heavy odds against them, the Hamiltons – and Dare U To Care – have produced more than 300 graduates of the program.

The news of Dare U To Care’s success spread, and the program regularly had to turn away potential clients because of their inability to pay the program’s bed fee (often to General Relief issues).

To remedy the situation – and help even more men and women – the Hamiltons came up with a unique and successful innovation. The couple purchased a Golden Bird fried chicken franchise, and also created the Dare U To Care Grill. These underserved clients now have an opportunity to cover the bed fee through working at the restaurants, as well as receiving much-needed on-the-job employment training.

Dare U To Care Ministries is a six-to-twelve-month residential program for men, women, and women with children ranging in ages from 0-13 years. The program is a 12-Step Social Model Therapeutic Community with an emphasis on continued education, coupled with a strong aftercare alumni program. The program is diverse, and mirrors the makeup of the local community it serves.

Many residents are court-ordered, referred to Dare U To Care by the state Department of Corrections, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and drug and mental health courts.

Since 1997, DUTC has held a parole contract with Walden House’s SASCA, one of Los Angeles County’s largest treatment programs. Dare U To Care visits various prisons to provide referral information regarding available services.

Also, as of July 1, 2008, the program joined forces with Human Potential Consultants, which administers the Community Based Coalition, a group that links parolees with housing & resources. The DUTC arm of the CBC can currently house 30 men or women.

Neither the seeds that the Hamiltons trustingly planted, nor the work that they have done to cultivate them, has been in vain. The fruits of their labors will forever live in the hearts and minds of thousands of changed lives.