You're invited to our 2024 Show of Hope Gala! Join us for a spectacular evening of festivity, friendship, and FUNdraising benefiting San Francisco Community Health Center. Our Show of Hope Gala will take place on Friday, April 19, 2024 at Hyatt Regency, San Francisco.

It is with heavy hearts that we received the news of AsiaSF's impending closure on March 31, 2024. As a beloved cornerstone of our transgender community, its absence will be deeply felt. In recognition of its significant impact, we are proud to present AsiaSF with our Community Impact Award at this year's gala. We feel privileged to have the Ladies of AsiaSF join us for a performance, honoring their legacy and contributions to our community.

Learn more about the event and sponsorship opportunities online at: Show of Hope.

AsiaSF

Community Impact Award

Since 1998, AsiaSF has been a uniquely San Francisco institution, an innovative and groundbreaking restaurant, bar, and entertainment venue that celebrates, empowers, and gainfully employs the transgender community.

Julie and Gerald, Community Living Room

Staff Highlight

Julie Tran and Gerald Marshall are key staff at our Community Living Room (CLR), which opened early in 2021 as a welcoming and safe space in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood during the COVID-19 pandemic when the marginalized persons who live here were being hit hard by neighborhood closures, a shortage of services, and the pandemic itself. Three years later, the Community Living Room continues to host up to 125 individuals every day, offering meals, hot coffee, support groups, and case management services.

Julie was elevated to the role of Program Manager shortly after receiving her BS in Public Health from SF State and stresses that everyone and anyone is welcome to stop by and do as much or as little as they like at CLR, sit quietly with a cup of coffee, socialize, or participate in groups such as HOPE Squad (HepC prevention), peer-led harm reduction, and sex-worker advocacy. Julie is hopeful that the Living Room will soon expand its capacity to serve hot meals and that everyone who walks through its doors can be encouraged to receive some level of education around substance use.

Gerald has been working for SFCHC as a Community Ambassador since August of 2023 and was prompted to apply because the job offers him the opportunity to provide leadership and to give back. Gerald echoes Julie’s assertion that all are welcome and should stop by the Community Living Room Monday through Friday for as little or as much as they feel they need.

Thank you, Julie and Gerald!

Programs Feature

What's Tea

What's Tea is a space for youth (ages 13-34), providing empowerment through community building, education, and collaboration. What's Tea is hosted every Wednesday and Friday from 4:30-6:30pm at Trans:Thrive.

REACT Project

REACT Project is a new 16-week program that provides classes and groups on substance use, mental health, physical health, and harm reduction for BIPOC LGBTQ+ folks who are unhoused, marginally housed, and who use substances.

Policy Updates

• Advocacy at the Capitol: National Association of Community Health Centers: In mid-February, CEO Lance Toma and Health Policy Analyst Julian Johnson attended the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC)’s Policy and Issue Forum in Washington, D.C., advocating for increased funding and resources for community health centers. We held meetings with various political offices, including Senator Alex Padilla (CA); Senator Laphonza Butler (CA); Congressman Kevin Mullin (CA-15); and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-11).

Photo: Members of the San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium with Deputy Chief of Staff of Congressman Kevin Mullin (CA-15).

• Community Health Centers remain a Bipartisan Priority: Following bipartisan efforts, Community Health Centers received increased mandatory funding to $4 billion in a recently passed spending bill, signaling a shared commitment across political lines.

• Results from March 5 Primary Election: In the local primary election, SFCHC expressed support for affordable housing initiatives while expressing concern over the passing of propositions expanding police powers and drug screening for welfare recipients. We continue to monitor the results of Proposition 1, aimed at reallocating funds for mental health services.

March 2024 Events Calendars



Check out our events for the month. Our calendars for the Community Living Room, Trans: Thrive, The Lotus Project, and more are available on our Calendar of Events.

San Francisco Community Health Center celebrates and attends to the health and wellness of the communities that define San Francisco—immigrant and communities of color, queer, trans, unhoused people, and all of us who are most impacted by oppression—through comprehensive medical, dental, and mental health services. We believe that health care starts with healing justice and meeting the basic needs of our communities. Our culturally informed services are designed by the very people we serve.