SF Community Action Agency
All Ages Urban Services YMCA
Make Your Voice Heard!
Urban Services YMCA, San Francisco’s Community Action Agency, is working to eliminate poverty—and we need your input! Every two years, we conduct a Community Needs Assessment to better understand the challenges facing our community. Your feedback will directly shape our 2026–2027 Action Plan, guiding the programs and services we prioritize. To review a draft of the plan, click here. For questions or comments about the plan or survey, please email Alora Martin at [email protected].
Take the 2025 Community Needs Assessment Survey today and help us build a stronger, more equitable San Francisco. Your responses will be shared at our Public Hearing on May 8, 2025 at 6 pm – 1530 Buchanan Street, San Francisco 94115.
Mission and Vision
Our Community Action Agency’s mission is to reduce San Francisco poverty levels and mitigate the negative impacts of poverty for all city residents in partnership with neighborhood stakeholders, private industry, elected leaders, faith-based institutions, local education agencies, and departments of government. Our vision is to give life to a nation where all persons have the opportunities to thrive, build strong and resilient communities, and co-create a more equitable society.
What We Do
Community Action Agencies are designated and funded to reduce poverty in the communities they serve. Every service, program, and activity must answer the question: “How does this move the needle on helping families out of poverty?” A complete document of what we do and why we do it is detailed in our 2024-2025 Community Action Plan and Needs Assessment.
Provide Service Connection
Housing preservation, rental assistance, and preventing people from being evicted and becoming homeless.
Financial assistance and training to remove barriers for low-income residents securing employment.
Legal connections to support residents who are undocumented or seeking asylum and/or working through the justice system.
Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Family Support Services
Translation services, job development, ESL classes, nutrition and cooking lessons, mentoring, peer leadership, and education opportunities.
Advocating for Policy Change
In in partnership with community voices, elected leaders, and private industry – Previous work includes comments on Public Charge, Redefining Poverty Levels, and HUD eligibility for Mixed Status Families.
Program Benefits
Our results center around changing lives and supporting the community move out of poverty. As Urban Services YMCA employs a Results-Oriented Management and Accountability framework (ROMA), our effectiveness is measured not only by the number of services directly provided, but by the improvements and changes achieved in the local community’s attitudes and practices towards anti-poverty purposes. Below is a video of what this can look like made possible through our Service Connection program.
Join our movement to eliminate poverty in San Francisco so we can co-create a more equitable society for all. We welcome suggestions, resources, and counsel on who we should connect with in order to advance this collective anti-poverty movement. Share with Manuel all suggestions, ideas, challenges, questions, etc. as it relates to Community Action and how we can work together to eliminate poverty in San Francisco.
May 8, 2025 at 6 pm – 1530 Buchanan Street, San Francisco 94115
Upcoming Events
Sep 14
Community
13th Annual Jog in the Fog – 5K Family Fun Run
Youth & Family
Reach & Rise® Mentoring
Ages 6-17 Chinatown YMCA, Urban Services YMCAAcademic Support or School Completion
Five Keys
Ages 18+ Bayview Hunters Point YMCAHealth & Wellness
