San Francisco Womens Centers

THE WOMEN'S BUILDING IS A WOMEN-LED COMMUNITY SPACE THAT ADVOCATES SELF-DETERMINATION, GENDER EQUALITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

PARTNERING FOR EMPOWERMENT - WE ARE HOME FOR THE FOLLOWING IN-HOUSE ORGANIZATIONS: WOMEN EXPERIENCING VIOLENCE (SAN FRANCISCO WOMEN AGAINST RAPE AND COOPERATIVE RESTRAINING ORDER CLINIC); WOMEN IN NEED OF FOOD WHILE IN SHELTERS (DOLORES STREET COMMUNITY SERVICES); PARENTS WITH SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN (PARENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SAN FRANCISCO); GIRLS' EMPOWERMENT THROUGH OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES (GIRLVENTURES AND GIRLS ON THE RUN); EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (MISSION NEIGHBORHOOD HEAD START CENTER); IMMIGRANT EDUCATION AND ACTIVISM FOR LATINAS (MUJERES UNIDAS Y ACTIVAS); IMMIGRANTS' AFFORDABLE LEGAL SERVICES (IMMIGRATION CENTER FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN). COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES - PRIOR TO COVID-19 THE WOMEN'S BUILDING PROVIDED NO OR LOW COST WELLNESS CLASSES; YOGA AND MEDITATION. WE WELCOMED FAMILIES AND ORGANIZATIONS WITH AFFORDABLE AND VERSATILE SPACES SO THAT THEY COULD HOST CELEBRATIONS, WORKSHOPS, CLASSES AND EVENTS. ALL RESERVATIONS WERE CANCELLED AND FULLY REFUNDED WITH THE CLOSURE ON THE BOOKINGS DEPARTMENT IN MARCH 17TH, 2020. THE WOMEN'S BUILDING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THE WOMEN'S BUILDING OFFERS FREE BILINGUAL CULTURAL SENSITIVE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. HERE EVERYONE CAN COME TOGETHER AND FIND THEIR OWN CONFIDENCE AND STRENGTH. WE OFFER EVERYONE THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO CREATE BETTER LIVES FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR COMMUNITY. IN FY 2020-2021 WE WERE ABLE TO ASSIST 5,198 UNIQUE CLIENTS WITH OUR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT INTEGRATE THE FOLLOWING AREAS OF SUPPORT. TWB WAS INTEGRATED BY A DIVERSE GROUP OF 23 STAFF MEMBERS + 48 VOLUNTEERS THAT DURING THIS PANDEMIC HELPED WITH MOSTLY FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTION AND TAX PROGRAMS. 1. THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE ROOM -2989 CLIENTS; 2.FOOD PANTRY - 380 CLIENTS; 3.TAX PROGRAM - 467 CLIENTS; 4. FAMILY REUNIFICATION FINGERPRINT - 1104 CLIENTS; FAMILY REUNIFICATION CASE MANAGEMENT - 258 CLIENTS. COMMUNITY RESOURCE ROOM(CRR): THIS ROOM AND SERVICE WAS FULLY REMOTE DURING FY 20-21 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT ARE ALSO PART OF OUR COMMUNITY EFFORTS INTEGRATES: RESOURCE CLINIC. THROUGH OUR MAIN LINE WE LISTEN TO OUR CLIENTS AND OFFER OPTIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND ASSISTANCE IN GENERAL FOR THE MANY CHALLENGES THAT OUR COMMUNITY FACES. LEGAL CLINICS. WE OFFERED ON SITE AND VIRTUAL OR BY PHONE LEGAL AID (IMMIGRATION, CIVIL AND EMPLOYMENT LAW COUNSELING). OUR LAWYERS GIVE CONSULTATIONS AND REFERRALS TO OUR CLIENTS AND HELP THEM NAVIGATE THEIR CHOICES IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE. FINANCIAL COACHING: THE WOMEN'S BUILDING (TWB) COLLABORATED FOR THE 3RD YEAR WITH SMART MONEY COACHING (SMC) TO ASSIST CLIENTS IN NEED OF FINANCIAL COACH, ADVICE AND EDUCATION. THIS FREE BILINGUAL PROGRAM SERVED 144 CLIENTS; CALFRESH SCREENINGS, APPLICATIONS AND ORIENTATIONS: THE WOMEN'S BUILDING WAS THE FIRST SITE IN THE MISSION DISTRICT THAT COLLABORATED WITH CALFRESH AROUND 9 YEARS AGO. WE OFFERED APPOINTMENTS FOR SCREENINGS AND APPLICATIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND DURING THIS FY WE ALSO HELPED WITH THE SUBMISSION OF SOME APPLICATIONS; HOUSING CLINIC: THE WOMEN'S BUILDING DOES ENROLLMENT AND HOUSING APPLICATIONS AS WELL AS RENTAL RELIEF APPLICATIONS FOR CLIENTS THAT NEED AN OPPORTUNITY OF 2. FOOD PANTRY: FOR OVER 10 YEARS, THE WOMEN'S BUILDING HAS HELD A WEEKLY IMMIGRANT FOOD PANTRY EVERY MONDAY MORNING. DUE TO THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF COVID-19 AND INCREASE IN FOOD INSECURITY, WE CONTINUED OUR EFFORTS WITH OUR SECOND DISTRIBUTION DAY ON THURSDAYS. WITH BOTH DISTRIBUTIONS THIS FY WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE 16,664 INDIVIDUALS. 3. TAX PROGRAM: THE WOMEN'S BUILDING HAS BEEN HELPING FAMILIES COMPLETE THEIR TAXES FOR OVER 10 YEARS! THIS YEAR IN SPITE OF THE PANDEMIC, WE COMPLETED 467 TAX RETURNS WITH THE HELP OF 18 VOLUNTEERS. 4. FAMILY REUNIFICATION SRS (SAFE RELEASE SUPPORT) THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH LUTHERAN IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICES (LIRS), TWB HAS THE CAPACITY TO ASSIST POTENTIAL SPONSORS WITH THE REUNIFICATION OF MINORS. THIS PROCESS INCLUDES FINGERPRINTING FOR BACKGROUND CHECKS, ADDRESSING CAREGIVER QUESTIONS/CONCERNS, IDENTIFYING SPONSOR/MINOR NEEDS AND CONNECTING THEM TO SERVICES. BETWEEN FY JULY 2020- JUNE 2021 WE PROCESSED THE FINGERPRINTS OF 552 SPONSORS. 5. FAMILY REUNIFICATION HS/PRS (HOME STUDY AND POST RELEASE SERVICES). THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH (LIRS), TWB HAS PROVIDED HOME STUDY AND POST RELEASE SERVICES (HS/PRS) SINCE 2018. THIS PROGRAM HELPS TO REUNITE MIGRANT CHILDREN WITH THEIR FAMILIES IN THE UNITED STATES. THESE CHILDREN OFTEN FACE VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY, OR ON THEIR JOURNEY TO THE U.S. WE ENSURE THAT THEY ARE SAFELY RELEASED FROM DETENTION AND REUNITED WITH LOVED ONES WHO ARE WELL-EQUIPPED TO CARE FOR THEM, GIVING THEM EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND THRIVE. TWB PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT, INCLUDING HOME VISITS AND REGULAR FOLLOW-UPS WITH THE CHILD AND FAMILY OVER THE PHONE OR IN-PERSON AS NEEDED. DURING FY 20-21 WE HELPED 258 MINORS. THROUGHOUT THE LAST YEAR, THE HS/PRS PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED IN TERMS OF STAFF AND HOURS, GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW OUR CASE CAPACITY. OUR TEAM WORKED WITH COVID PROTOCOLS AND BEST PRACTICES FOR CONDUCTING VIRTUAL HOME VISITS, AND ENSURED THAT THE SAFETY AND APPROPRIATENESS OF THE HOME WAS BEING PROPERLY ASSESSED UNDER THESE NEW CIRCUMSTANCES. ADVOCACY - DURING FY 20-21 WE HAD CONTINUED OUR EFFORTS FOR WOMEN?S RIGHTS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FOOD SECURITY AND IMMIGRATION RIGHTS. THESE EFFORTS INCLUDE SUPPORT LETTERS, ATTENDING MARCHES, CO-SPONSORING EVENTS AND EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS FOR THE STAFF TO ENSURE THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES BUT ALSO TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ENGAGING, ENRICHING AND EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

GENERAL PROGRAM - THE SAN FRANCISCO WOMEN'S CENTERS KNOWN AS THE WOMEN'S BUILDING (TWB) IS AN ENRICHMENT HUB OFFERING A COMMUNITY FOCUSED ON SUPPORT, PROGRESS AND STRENGTH. OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES FOR SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT, ADVOCACY EFFORTS FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND IMMIGRATION RIGHTS. DURING THIS FY WE ALSO PIVOTED OUR RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THE CLIENT'S NEED FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.