Dolores Street Community Services

Thank you so much for your weekly support! Our shelter participants are so grateful! Keep up the great work!

Thank you @sotainstrumentalmusic for your wonderful performances and support! Check out the mariachi performances and donate at undocufund-sf.org to support undocumented workers in San Francisco today!

Fighting for Our Workers In response to the devastating impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on our community, Dolores Street Community Services is creating a Workers Emergency Relief Fund. The fund will provide emergency financial support for our employees who are providing essential services at this critical time and for worker members from La Colectiva and the Day Labor Program. For our essential services employees working in emergency shelters and supportive housing, ...the threat of contracting COVID-19 is extremely real. In order to ensure that our shelter residents could comply with the shelter-in-place order, our organization began operating our family and single adult shelters 24 hours, 7 days a week. Our program, facilities, kitchen and administrative support staff have been on the frontlines working tirelessly and courageously under extremely stressful conditions. For our employees who are diagnosed with COVID-19, the fund will provide financial support to cover the $4,000.00 annual insurance deductible if they are hospitalized for care; ambulance costs should they need to be transported to the ER; co-pays for medication and hotel or AirBnB accommodation costs should they need to self-isolate during the recommended 14 day period and are unable do so in their own home because of space limitations (i.e. multi-family household living in small apartment or studio) or having a family member who resides with them with a compromised immune system. For our worker members, this fund would provide them financial assistance for out-of-pocket medical expenses and loss of wages, food and rental support. We have learned that the average family household of our member workers from La Colectiva and our Day Labor Program has lost $1,200 per week in earnings. During times of crisis, we need to turn to each other for mutual aid, strength and transformation. We ask that you stand in solidarity with our workers and make a donation that is financially significant to you. These funds are critically needed because our frontline employees and worker members do not have the privilege to shelter in place. Please share this letter with others who care about the communities we serve and the staff in our organization who provide those services. In Struggle & Fighting for Our Workers, Laura Valdéz Executive Director Help workers who have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/1425861

The COVID-19 pandemic is hitting workers hard, and the workers who are hurting most have the least access to relief. Donate to the UndocuFund! Please like and share it! bit.ly/undocufund #UndocuFundSF #Covid_19 #donate #Covid19 #immigrants #undocumented #reliefbill

Now, more than ever, we must stand together. One thing we can do to help our families and neighbors is fill out the Census. Respond now at my2020census.gov Tell your story! #2020Census

Getting a stimulus check? Undocumented workers won’t - donate part or all of your check and help keep families going. bit.ly/undocufund

This year, support Dolores Street Community Services

https://www.facebook.com/676797971/posts/10156834040412972/

http://www.sfweekly.com//mission-district-school-resists-/

Join the leaders and families of the Mission SRO Collaborative and the Deportation Defense and Legal Advocacy Program for a week of important community actions! For more information, visit the following event pages: Free Raul!: https://www.facebook.com/events/283416592352761/ Our City Our Home!: https://www.facebook.com/events/2174841939446512/ No Monster in the Mission!: https://www.facebook.com//www.face/events/277890739546685/

The members of La Colectiva are women who stand in their own power, many fighting to ensure their families live free from discrimination and fear and their struggle fueled by their desire to improve the quality of life in working class and immigrant communities. Our Worker Center Program unites and organizes immigrant workers for dignified work and fair wages in San Francisco. Our program currently houses two collectives, La Colectiva/The Women's Collective and the San Francisco Day Labor Program. These two worker collectives fight to achieve full human rights for immigrant workers. Watch the video below for more information on La Collectiva and our workers’ rights program.

Since July, Dolores Street Community Services has assisted over 1,200 people with legal aid. Most recently, the Deportation Defense and Legal Advocacy Program secured the release of two community members from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and won the asylum case for a Guatemalan survivor of torture and mother of four. In one case, the community member we represented was the father of two young U.S. citizen children and has lived here for over 10 years. H...e is now reunited with his family. In another case, Dolores Street Community Services' won asylum on behalf of a young indigenous woman who overcame years of trauma and abuse in Guatemala. Watch the video to learn more about our program and the legal services we provide.

Meet Brandon and Smokey, two of our clients currently finding a safe and dignified space at our Dolores Street Shelter Program. They are only two of the growing homeless population in San Francisco. Dolores Street Community Services provides 109 beds each night, and this is only one part of the work that happens at our shelters. Clean towels, mattresses, showers and a warm meal are all offered as services necessary for the well-being of our guests. Our on-staff case manager ...also works hard to get people into the City’s limited, low-income supportive housing stock so they can find a permanent home. Support our work in providing safe and dignified shelter, advocacy, and organizing to address the structural causes of homelessness. https://tinyurl.com/ydd67dy6

One of our amazing clients featured in this article

Kick-start this Season of Giving: Participate in Dolores Street Community Services #GivingTuesday Campaign. Support our work in providing safe and dignified shelter and advocacy and organizing to address the structural causes of homelessness.

For those of you who missed last nights 35th Anniversary, may we proudly present a little video https://www.dropbox.com/s/zx9ryvbehu2h62y/DSCS_final.mov

An awesome night with awesome guests!

Just a reminder that although online ticket sales are no longer available, a limited number of walk-in tickets are still available. Hope to see you tomorrow evening for our annual Open Palm Awards! https://www.dscs.org/events

We are fighting for the release of our client, Raul who was separated from his family a year and a half ago. Please sign this petition by Tuesday September 11th, to show your support for Raul and demand his release from immigration detention: https://ciyja.org/freeraul/. Raul’s family was featured in the national news when his daughter danced in her quinceañera gown outside the detention center, https://www.cbsnews.com//girl-dances-in-quinceanera-gown-/. Raul has been detai...ned without bond and separated from his wife, their two minor children, and his community for a year and half. Raul has lived in the Bay Area for almost three decades. His family has suffered financially and emotionally without him, and this separation became even more difficult in June when he was transferred to a detention center in Colorado where his family is unable to visit him. His immigration case is ongoing and Raul deserves to be able to fight his case from within his community and with his family by his side. We will continue to use the petition for advocacy after September 11th so please continue to share and sign the petition after that date. See more

Our guys at work early in the day!

Bay Area Reporter - Serving the San Francisco Bay Area Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community SF shelter provider welcomes queer ED by Alex Madison Wednesday Aug 29, 2018...Continue reading

AB 2314 Passes Senate- Congratulations to the women of La Colectiva! Thanks to the work of our tireless member leaders, our fierce Leadership Empowerment Coordinator, Evelin Alfaro, and our Lider Consagrada, Guillermina Castellanos, as well as hundreds of domestic workers in California, AB 2314 passed the senate and is headed to Jerry Brown's desk. AB2314 seeks a robust set of education, outreach and enforcement elements that will benefit domestic workers across the state, ...with the hope to inspire other states to adopt similar approaches The women of La Colectiva are founders and leaders in the domestic worker movement in California and the United States and together with the CA Domestic Workers Coaliton, are responsible for the first-in-history permanent bill of rights for domestic workers in California, AB1015. Over the next months, there will be continued advocacy for Governor Brown to sign AB 2314, and take the next step in implementing the rights that they have worked so hard to win!

Amazing support for San Francisco Immigrant Legal & Education Network (SFILEN) What a timely donation to help continue all the fantastic work SFILEN does for our community- congratulations!

Our wonderful staff sort of taking an afternoon off to relax from the day to day trauma they face working in housing/shelter, immigration/deportation defense, and work force development. I love these people.

What a great victory!! Dolores Street had over 20 staff and members collecting over 700 signatures. 28,000 signatures is a mandate from voters to pass this initiative and house the people of San Francisco

Dolores Street's 2017 Annual Report

Congrats to Marisela Esperanza and her incredible work for DSCS and SFILEN Marisela Esparza, Dolores Street Community Services staff was nominated by SF Mayor Mark Farrell as an honoree at the Annual Women’s History Month Ceremony held on March 21 at City Hall, recognizing women in our community who are courageous leaders improving the quality of life for San Franciscans. The theme for the 2018 Women’s History Month celebration is Nevertheless She Persisted: Honoring Women W...ho Fight All Forms of Discrimination. Marisela is the San Francisco Immigrant Legal & Education Network (SFILEN) Program Manager and provides extraordinary leadership to a collaboration of 13 immigration organizations throughout the city that provide outreach, community education, and free or low-cost legal services to immigrants from many diverse countries and regions of the world. See more

Spotlight on Jazzie's Place http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=73208

#GivingTuesday 2017 has been a test to our community; 2018 threatens to further challenge our victories and progress. Recent and long-standing immigrants and their families are living under an escalating threat of displacement and deportation, while our immigrant and low-income workers are newly under threat. But in the face of adversity, Dolores Street Community Services stands firm in asserting our values of inclusive democracy, dignity, and sanctuary for all. This coming y...ear, we will celebrate 35 years of generating programs, services and resources responding to the systemic impacts of inequalities in housing rights, immigrant rights, and worker rights, while also addressing the immediate needs of immigrant and low-income communities of color. DSCS remains committed to supporting the development of those most marginalized by dehumanizing policies and economic practices, and grounded in the strength of community leadership to build the imagination of what is possible. Every day Dolores Street helps people like Erika seeking asylum with support and legal representation to win their cases. Erika also became a leader of La Colectiva de Mujeres, a program of DSCS, where she learned about her rights so she didn’t have to be afraid, and she was connected with income opportunities and a community of supporters. You can read Erika’s story below . #GivingTuesday is an opportunity for you to invest in advancing inclusive democracy, dignity, and sanctuary for all with Dolores Street Community Services. Will you make an investment in our front line staff, our leaders, and our community? Please donate to help sustain our collective vision for change. https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/dscsgivingtuesday

We’ve formally begun the process to identify candidates for our next Executive Director. It’s an exciting time at Dolores Street. We’ve been doing a lot of internal work to align our programs this past year which has resulted in the creation of a new Community Engagement and Organizing Department which is bringing all of our service programs together on issues that affect our overlapping communities. We’ve also been working with consultants to launch a new fundraising and marketing campaign to better represent ourselves and all the great work we do to the greater community. The new ED will be instrumental in moving all of these efforts forward. I would be grateful if you could share the announcement with folks you think might be a good fit. The position can be found here: https://www.dscs.org/job-openings/

This special benefit concert by Sila follows Dolores Street Community Services' annual event, the Open Palm Awards. Tickets are just $25 and can be purchased at the door. All funds raised at this event will support Dolores Street’s vision for a vibrant and diverse San Francisco where multiple cultures, life experiences and contributions are honored, and all people live with dignity and hope.

In light of attacks on the rights of immigrants from the current administration, and its recent rescinding of DACA, Dolores Street Community Services (DSCS) wants our staff, clients and the greater community we serve to know that we are a safe place free from discrimination and ICE activity. We affirm our 35 year commitment to meeting the immediate needs of low-income and immigrant communities in San Francisco. DSCS was founded on these principles in 1982 when we opened our d...oors to create safe and sheltered space in the Mission District for refugees fleeing war and famine in Central America and it continues to be the bedrock of our core belief to stand in solidarity as we address and resist the root causes of suffering and injustice. Earlier in the week, Dolores Street Community Service’s own Deportation Defense & Legal Advocacy Program publicly denounced this administration's cruel decision to rescind DACA. We believe in the inherent value and power of our communities and rise in solidarity with all 11 million undocumented brothers and sisters. We face this moment grounded in our collective resilience--inspired and determined to continue to organize, advocate, and provide culturally and linguistically competent, zealous representation to those who are fighting back against the most egregious due process violations in the immigration system. Will you stand with us? Join us at this year’s 2017 Open Palm Awards on Friday, September 15th, where we will celebrate Dolores Street's accomplishments as well as honor community heroes who work tirelessly for dignity, respect and human rights for immigrants, low income, and homeless communities. Online ticket sales end Monday! For more information visit our website: www.dscs.org Resources: 24 Hour Hotline SF Rapid Response Network: 415-200-1548. Spanish, Arabic, and Chinese (both Cantonese and Mandarin)

Join our group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/6113150278/

Remember this Pride weekend that we have the only adult LGBTQ safe shelter in the country! Donate now at www.dscs.org !

If you're in or around Berkeley on Saturday, stop by the Cheese Board Collective for some delicious pizza, and at the same time support our incredible Deportation Defense and Legal Advocacy Program!

Dolores Street staff and members marching strong!

http://mymetmedia.com//nativist-storm-brings-disparate-co/

A joint Labor-Community Statement of Principles on Inclusionary Housing for today's Planning Commission hearing: We are troubled by a proposal which promotes it...self as expanding opportunities for ‘middle income families,’ but accomplishes that result only at the expense of those families with lower incomes. In our view, such an approach is fundamentally wrong. We should not be pitting low and middle income San Franciscans against each other in their access to affordable housing or any other essential service. There is little doubt that this City continues to be in a prolonged and unsolved affordable housing crisis. Evictions and extraordinary rents are displacing thousands and destroying the diversity of San Francisco. There is also no question that this crisis has now grown to impact many ‘middle class’ working households forced to compete for housing with upper income professionals from the entire region, particularly after tens of thousands of apartments and homes have been converted into short term vacation, student, or corporate rentals, or just sit idle as second or third homes for the wealthy. But cutting back housing for lower income families is not the solution to these crises. When households making six-figure incomes have a hard time finding housing, then it does not take a sophisticated economic study to conclude that restaurant workers, store clerks, classroom assistants, and others who make $35,000 a year (with overtime) need even more help. The voters of San Francisco have drawn the same conclusion. Last June, voters were presented with Proposition C, which raised the inclusionary housing standards for market rate developers. It also proposed setting aside 15% of new housing for lower income households and 10% for moderate income households. Proposition C was approved by a supermajority of the voters. Then, last November, voters were presented with Proposition U, a proposal that would have overturned that Prop C measure and reset housing levels to benefit middle income households and to leave out lower income families. Voters overwhelmingly rejected Prop U. The values embodied in these election results are clear: San Franciscans are not ready to give up on a truly inclusive affordable housing program, one that keeps its longstanding commitment since its inception in 2012 to serve lower income households, even as the program expands and evolves to serve middle income households. Rather than cut back, the mandate should be to expand the total available resources. Thus, today the City must demand the highest number of affordable units as possible, not merely the 18% proposed in one proposal but 24% of all new projects that build higher or larger. We do need to be proactive in seeking solutions for middle income families, but this should be done carefully and be additive rather than pitting those people against their fellow San Franciscans in a zero-sum game. By expanding the total amount of inclusionary housing and continuously stepping up the program from here forward, we can expand opportunity for middle income households without cutting back housing opportunities for those with lower incomes. Such an approach rejects the politics of division and brings us together to solve our housing crisis. AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALLIANCE CALIFORNIA FACULTY ASSOCIATION-SF STATE UNIVERSITY CALIFORNIA NURSES ASSOCIATION CAUSA JUSTA :: JUST CAUSE CHINATOWN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER CHINESE PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY TENANTS ASSOCIATION COUNCIL OF COMMUNITY HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS DOLORES STREET COMMUNITY SERVICES EPISCOPAL COMMUNITY SERVICES EVICTION DEFENSE COLLABORATIVE FAITH IN ACTION BAY AREA HOMEOWNERSHIP SAN FRANCISCO HOUSING RIGHTS COMMITTEE OF SAN FRANCISCO JOBS WITH JUSTICE MILK CLUB ACTION COMMITTEE MISSION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY PODER SAN FRANCISCO RISING SAN FRANCISCO TENANTS UNION SENIOR AND DISABILITY ACTION SOUTH OF MARKET COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK SWORDS TO PLOWSHARES UNITED EDUCATORS OF SAN FRANCISCO VETERANS EQUITY CENTER

Please join us for San Francisco's access to counsel, education, and outreach initiative for immigrants on Tuesday at 12pm at the steps of City Hall!

Dolores Street Community Services has been selected by the City of San Francisco to participate in a capacity building project focused on communication and development. Your input and feedback will help will help guide our future messaging and engagement efforts. The survey is quick and simple and all responses are anonymous. Thank you for your participation! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y3XQ5N5

The Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) has graciously agreed to receive and distribute funds for the tenants displaced by Saturday’s fire on Mission Str...eet and 29th. Any donations to this fund are tax-deductible and will go directly to the tenants. Dolores Street Community Services and its Mission SRO Collaborative program, who are working directly with the tenants, will work with MEDA to equitably distribute the funds. Here is the link to make donations: https://medasf.org/get-involved/donate/make-a-donation/ It’s important to specify at the bottom of the page that these funds are for the Tenant Fire Fund (right above the "Submit Donation" button). There is also a fund to help businesses that were destroyed or damaged by the fire. Donations to the fund for businesses are being administered by the Mission Bernal Merchants Association . Any donation to this fund is also tax-deductible. The link to that fund can be found here: http://www.mbmasf.org/ On Friday, June 24 from 4pm to 2am, Doc's Clock (2575 Mission Street) is hosting a fundraiser for the families affected by the fire. They will be donating 50% of bar sales. They are also looking for a corporate sponsor to match all donations. On Sunday, June 26 from 3-6pm, the newly open Barebottle Brewing Company (1525 Cortland Ave) will donate 50% of proceeds from each beer poured to the displaced families. On Thursday, June 30 from 8-midnight, El Rio (3158 Mission) will host a fundraiser for survivors and donate all bar proceeds. Door fee will be $10 USD (but no one turned away). All proceeds will go directly to the familes and will be matched 1-1 by a corporate sponsor. MEDA will process all donations and won't be charging a fee. Thank you to Virgil's Sea Room for donating a portion of your sales this past Sundays. And thank you all for your generosity. The outpouring of support from San Francisco residents and businesses has been incredibly heartwarming.

In May's AILA Interview of the Month, Ana Camila Herrera, Managing Attorney, Dolores Street Community Services, a member of the San Francisco Immigration Legal Defense Collaborative, shares how renewed funding by the city for the SFILDC will help provide representation to unaccompanied minors and families in immigration court.

Early Bird Tickets End Soon so Get Them Now!

Please join our FB group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/6113150278/

Last Chance to Join us at The 2014 Open Palm Awards! http://conta.cc/1sObLp1

Dolores Street Community Services 2014 Open Palm Awards! http://conta.cc/1vyAQGM

No Monster in the Mission Mar http://conta.cc/1v7zy6m

Volunteer+with+us+at+Up+Your+Alley+on+Sunday,+July+27th! http://conta.cc/TPsf5p

Join+us+for+An+Evening+in+the+Garden+this+Friday! http://conta.cc/1iHm7T6

For all those who like Dolores Street, please consider joining our group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/6113150278/

For a limited time, use the code "BUILDIT" at http://dscs.eventbrite.com/ for 30% off your ticket (both GA and VIP) Don't forget: BUILDIT

Come dance the night away at PUBLIC WORKS, and help build the first adult LGBT focused homeless shelter in San Francisco! Tickets are $50 for a General Admission ticket, and $100 for a VIP ticket that includes a private VIP section at the venue, and a VIP reception with special guests. We’ll have everything you’re looking for in a party: Amazing DJ’s and live entertainment on two floors all night long, stunning décor, an aerialist, photo booth provided by Photography for Good..., liquor tasting tables, and an open bar with sponsored vodka cocktails, wine, and Sapporo beer. There are hundreds of LGBT individuals living on the streets of our community who desperately need care, food, and immediate shelter. Unfortunately, over 70% of transgender residents and over half of LGBT-identifying individuals report having experienced physical and verbal violence at the city's shelters because of their identity. In order to open this shelter we need to raise $100,000 to complete construction. With your support, we hope to raise the remaining funds through this Gala being put on for our benefit from the fine folks at Reason To Party. Help us raise funds by purchasing a ticket to BUILT TO LAST, and enjoy an event to remember. Use promo code BOBTHEBUILDER for a discounted ticket! Purchase it here: http://dscs.eventbrite.com/# One party can make a difference. We’ll see you there!