Episcopal Community Services of San Francisco

💖 Transformative Change: Ashleyt’s Experience 💖 Meet Ashleyt, who has worked towards a better life with housing and job assistance support from ECS. Ashleyt emigrated to the U.S. from Guatemala in 2007. After a breakup with a partner, Ashleyt became homeless and lived on the street for four years. During the pandemic, Ashleyt met an ECS social worker who connected her to services and the opportunity for short-term housing. She was eventually offered her own space through Rapid Rehousing. “My first thought (after I moved in) was to find a job,” Ashleyt said. Through the ECS Job Center, Ashleyt found a job as a housekeeper, which she has maintained for over two years. “When I got the opportunity (to have housing), it changed my life. ECS helped me get my life on track again.” Now living in her own apartment, Ashleyt is grateful for stability and new opportunities. She has a California ID, social security number, and work authorization. “I can afford the rent. I don’t have any complaints about my life. I don’t need to run away.” She’s now able to support herself and her family from afar. “When I left Guatemala I promised to my family to give them what is needed. In the two years I’ve been in housing, I’ve been able to support my mother and family. This was not on my mind when I was living in the street.” “What everybody's doing to help unhoused people, keep doing it,” Ashleyt said. “A lot of people outside need the help.” #SFNonprofitsWork #SocialSafetyNet

We are so proud of our latest cohort of 7 CHEFS graduates! Having developed technical kitchen skills and earned food safety certification over a rigorous 10-week training, they’re prepared for successful employment in the culinary industry. Workforce development support like our CHEFS program is key to our mission of preventing and ending homelessness and we are so excited to see all that our CHEFS graduates will accomplish!

🌟 Shining a Light on SF Nonprofits! 🌟 In San Francisco, our social safety net is woven by the incredible nonprofits that step up in times of need. From food security to mental health support, nonprofits are here for our community when it matters most. 💪✨ Join us this month in celebrating the impact of nonprofits! #SFNonprofitsWork #SocialSafetyNet

What types of interim housing does ECS offer? Interim housing is an important housing intervention supporting stability for people experiencing street homelessness. Alongside our expansive permanent supportive housing portfolio, Episcopal Community Services also operates multiple types of interim housing for adults experiencing homelessness in the Bay Area. For more information on the different forms of interim housing, check out last month’s #Homelessness101 post! ✴️ Shelter 〰️ The Sanctuary: The Sanctuary is a 200-unit shelter located in San Francisco. Services include: daily meals, showers, laundry, and onsite support services. ECS collaborates with @sfpublichealth to address medical needs. The Sanctuary holds a special place in ECS’ history; the organization got its start by providing overnight shelter to 40 adults in the basement of Grace Cathedral before the Sanctuary moved to its current location in 1986. 〰️ The Cova: The Cova is a 104-unit non-congregate shelter that has been in operation in San Francisco since 2022. Services include: daily meals, showers, laundry, and onsite support services. 〰️ SF Interfaith Winter Shelter: Since 1988, ECS has partnered with the San Francisco Interfaith Council to operate the Interfaith Winter Shelter. The Interfaith Winter Shelter provides meals and warm overnight rest for 100 adults during the coldest months of the year. 〰️ Alameda Warming Shelter: In 2023, ECS was selected to operate a winter shelter in partnership with three churches in the City of Alameda. The shelter provides warm overnight rest for 25 adults during the winter season. Services include: daily meals, showers, and onsite support services. 〰️ Marin Severe Weather Emergency Shelter: Since 2022, ECS has operated an inclement weather shelter in Marin County, providing shelter for 40 adults during severe weather. Services include: daily meals, showers, and onsite support services. ✴️ Transitional Housing 〰️ Residential Reentry: ECS’ reentry residential program launched in 2021. The program provides up to six months of housing for people who were recently released from state prison, are on parole, and at a high risk for experiencing homelessness. Residential Reentry includes support services, case management, employment assistance, and more.

Recovery services have an immense positive impact, supporting people on their journeys recovering from severe mental health conditions and substance use. As #NationalRecoveryMonth comes to a close, we’re uplifting the story of JL, an ECS resident who has achieved stability and healing through ECS’ behavioral health services. JL is a woman in her 50s who has been maintaining recovery from bipolar and paranoid schizophrenia for the past 10 years. In San Francisco, she utilized services at the Baldwin Hotel and was eligible for ECS Behavioral Health services. JL was moved into independent housing but soon after experienced the tragic loss of her son, who was found around the corner from her building in the Tenderloin neighborhood. Throughout this difficult time, JL utilized ECS’ behavioral health services to further her recovery journey. She has sought out more specific grief counseling and maintained her connection with medical care. JL shares, "Everything changed when I met you. You reminded me I was a person and not just a person in a system."

ECS is grateful for partners like BBI Construction who’ve supported the rehabilitation of the Granada Hotel, the first project in San Francisco to receive Homekey funding in 2020. Once renovations are complete, the Granada will provide 214 homes for Legacy tenants and formerly unhoused residents, bringing us one step closer to ending chronic homelessness in San Francisco! #HousingFirst #EndHomelessess

#HispanicHeritageMonth recognizes and celebrates the cultures, histories, and contributions of Hispanics and Latinos across the nation. This year’s theme is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together,” reinforcing the power of community in forging a thriving future. If there is one thing we’ve learned in our work addressing homelessness, it’s that partnership, collaboration, and compassion are necessary to affect positive change and support those who need it most. In the spirit of this theme and month, we are honored to highlight the work of La Raza Community Resource Center, an organization that provides free or low cost legal services, family support services, and resources like rental assistance to low-income families and individuals. Serving as a bridge between San Francisco and Spanish speaking immigrant families, the work of La Raza strengthens our community, ensuring that the people who thread the fabric of San Francisco are meaningfully supported. It is imperative that we help shape brighter futures as a collective society for our peers now and for generations to come. Organizations like La Raza bring our communities steps closer to successful and promising futures. We are grateful for La Raza’s work and dedication.

Nothing brings people together like #TacoTuesday, and the families at Canon Barcus are no exception! At ECS’ permanent supportive housing site providing homes for 47 formerly unhoused or at risk families, events like these spark joy, build community, and strengthen residents’ well-being. We can’t wait for the next one! Want to put a smile on the faces of families at residences like Canon Barcus? Make a gift at https://loom.ly/zYP4aIs

Today is #NationalVoterRegistrationDay! Take a moment to check your voter registration status and make your vote count. https://lnkd.in/eJpjmeu

It is amazing that as a society we allow our seniors to become the fastest growing population experiencing homelessness. Solomon story is one of Hope and I am honored to work for an organization that focuses on the needs of our community seniors to help them age with dignity and compassion.