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Dolores
Street Community Services works to prevent homelessness, create affordable
housing, build community, and empower low-income residents of San
Francisco. We accomplish this through
culturally appropriate neighborhood-based services, education, advocacy, and
community organizing.
We envision a vibrant and diverse San Francisco
where multiple cultures, life experiences and contributions are honored, and
all people live with dignity and hope.
Our vision is of a just and sustainable community where all residents -
regardless of income, immigration or health status -
have equal rights and access to resources, and are empowered to fully
participate in shaping the City's
future. Our
work toward this vision is guided by the belief that the people most affected
by poverty, inequity and injustice should be leaders in creating solutions for
the problems they face.
Our programs include the Dolores Housing Program, Richard M. Cohen Residence, Community Planning & Development, Mission SRO Collaborative, Immigrant Legal & Education Network, and Valencia Community Center.
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Dear Friends of Dolores Street Community Services,
First, I hope this letter finds you and your family and
friends well. This past year has been a journey of success and challenge for us
at Dolores Street Community Services. As a community-based organization we see
the negative impacts the economic and political climate are reaping on our
constituents and community. From out of work day laborers to families forced to
live in Single Room Occupancy Hotels to terrified families being torn apart by
unjust immigration laws, we confront these challenges on a regular basis.
Often we are frustrated and heartbroken at the conditions we
see, but rarely are we defeated. As an organization we are inspired by the
resiliency of our participants and clients, as well as their leadership and
commitment to social justice. As the
Executive Director, I am also witness to the committed staff of Dolores Street
with their tenacity, talent and love of their community.
Dolores Street Community Services strives to be true to our
mission as a social service and social justice organization. As we enter into
the holiday season, it is a time to reflect and celebrate the work of the past
year. To list just a few of our
accomplishments, we:
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Served over 600 individuals in our emergency shelters
and supportive housing units.
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Broke ground on the Dolores Hotel which will
house 53 homeless and low-income individuals.
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Led the San Francisco Immigrant Legal and
Education Network providing over 1500 immigrants with legal and education
services including deportation defense, citizenship and processing assistance.
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Provided outreach, safety and disaster workshops
for hard to reach residents living in SRO Hotels.
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Provided permanent housing with onsite medical
and social care for formerly homeless people living with HIV/AIDS.
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Participated in the Budget Justice Network
working with the Board of Supervisors to limit cuts to city services that serve
the disenfranchised.
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Participated in defending the rights of
undocumented youth in the SF Juvenile Justice System.
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Organized against unjust evictions of families
on 24th Street.
Everyday new
clients walk through our doors to receive services; everyday we organize to fight for social justice. You can be a part
of our work by becoming a financial supporter of Dolores Street Community
Services. We hope to raise $20,000 in
new donations and pledges from individuals like you over the holidays to make
our budget this year. Please consider
making a one time or sustainer gift to support our work today!
Sincerely,
Eric Quezada
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CLOTHING DONATIONS NEEDED FOR THE WINTER
Please help the residents of our homeless shelters stay warm this winter!
We are in need of adult men's sizes of the following:
- Pants (especially jeans or other sturdy pants)
- Jackets, sweaters, sweatshirts, thermals
- Shoes (other than dress shoes)
Please bring donations to: 938 Valencia St. (between 20th and 21st)
When: Monday through Thursday, 9:30am-6:00pm
If you're unable to come during these times, please call 415-282-6209 x 27 to arrange a pickup or drop-off time.
Many thanks for your help!
Happy Holidays and New Year!
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The Open Palm Awards
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
6 pm - 10 pm
at
The Blue Macaw
2565 Mission Street, San Francisco
Please join us at the newly remodeled Blue Macaw nightclub to honor the work of our awardees and celebrate the accomplishments of Dolores Street Community Services over the past year. The Open Palm Awards will include an open wine bar and full cash bar, catering from some of the City's top chefs, music, dancing and entertainment by Los Compas, a silent auction, and more!
Opening remarks by State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano!
Homeless Services Award
Jennifer Friedenbach, Executive Director of the Coalition on Homelessness, for her unending dedication to standing up for the rights of the homeless and her advocacy work on the City budget
Immigrant Rights Award
Morrison & Foerster LLP for their pro-bono work representing low income clients in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation proceedings
HIV/AIDS Services Award
Father Richard Purcell who founded Marty's Place in 1989 to provide a home for homeless individuals living with HIV/AIDS
Click here to purchase tickets or sponsorships
Super Cool Sponsor - $1,000
- 4 tickets to event plus a private table for you and your guests at event
- Logo in invitation mailed to 1500 contacts (if notified by October 15th)
- Prominent recognition in signage and during event program
- Prominent inclusion of name or logo on our website
Cool Sponsor - $500
- Logo in invitation mailed to 1500 contacts (if notified by October 15th)
- Recognition in signage and during program at event
- Inclusion of name or logo on our website
Sponsor - $250
- Name in invitation mailed to 1500 contacts (if notified by October 15th)
- Recognition in signage at event
- Inclusion of name on our website
Event Tickets - $100, $50 (Nonprofit Rate), or $35 (Community Member Rate)
Click here to purchase tickets or sponsorships
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In Our Words: Dolores Street Blog
We're blogging! Check back often to see what we're up to: New Entries Made Regularly!
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Dolores Street Acquires The Dolores Hotel
Dolores Street Community Services recently acquired a 59 until Single Room Occupancy Hotel -
coincidentally
called The Dolores Hotel - which will provide a next step for our shelter guests in moving into more stable housing. We'll be beginning rehab of the building in the next few months and hope to have our first residents moving in next Spring. This will be the first new supportive housing facility to open in the Mission in many years.
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New Mission & Vision!
As part of our recent strategic plan, Dolores Street updated our Mission Statement to include the scope of all our new programs and created a Vision Statement as well.
Mission
Dolores Street Community Services works to prevent homelessness, create
affordable housing, build community, and empower low-income residents of San
Francisco. We accomplish this through
culturally appropriate neighborhood-based services, education, advocacy, and
community organizing.
Vision
We envision a vibrant and diverse San Francisco where multiple cultures, life
experiences and contributions are honored, and all people live with dignity and
hope. Our vision is of a just and sustainable
community where all residents –
regardless of income, immigration or health status –
have equal rights and access to resources, and are empowered to fully
participate in shaping the City’s
future. Our
work toward this vision is guided by the belief that the people most affected
by poverty, inequity and injustice should be leaders in creating solutions for
the problems they face.
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