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Overview
In 2018 the California Department of Community Services and Development designated Urban Services YMCA as San Francisco’s Community Action Agency, and through this designation, we joined a nationwide Community Action Partnership network focused on the elimination of poverty and the revitalization of low-income communities via the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG).
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 inaugural 2020-2021 Community Action Plan and Needs Assessment and includes:
- Service Connection programming citywide
- 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 via the Chinatown YMCA’s Immigrant Support Center
- Translation services, job development, ESL classes, nutrition and cooking lessons, mentoring, peer leadership, and education opportunities.
- Advocating for policy change 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.
Above mentioned activities are provided citywide and leveraged against Urban Services YMCA’s entire Services Delivery System, made possible through existing grants and contracts, and includes
- Afterschool Enrichment
- Community Health Advocates and Peer Education Leaders
- Empowerment to Employment
- Family Resource Centers
- Mental Health and Case Management
- Reach and Rise® Mentoring Program
- School-Based Beacon Centers (James Denman and Dr. Charles Drew)
- Service Connection
- Truancy Assessment and Resource Center
- Youth Empowerment Fund
A Focus on Results
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.
How To Get Involved
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.
Community Action Agency Needs Assessment Survey 2021
As San Francisco’s Community Action Agency, Urban Services YMCA is focused on elimination of poverty and we need you to work with us towards achieving this goal! Every two years, we complete a community needs assessment, and from this data, develop a 2-year action plan on what strategies, advocacy, and direct services to focus on.
Your feedback is vital, and we invite you complete the following survey and share with your networks:
It takes most people about four minutes to complete and helps us know what types of programs, services, and advocacy we should provide to combat and eliminate poverty in San Francisco. This survey is anonymous, your responses cannot be associated with you or your family, and results will be presented at our May 12, 2021 public hearing and included in our 2022-2023 Action Plan.
Link here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/_Urban_CAA_NeedsAssessment_March2021