Episcopal Community Services of San Francisco

Episcopal Community Services of San Francisco (ECS) is a non-profit organization benefiting homeless and low-income men, women, and children in San Francisco, California. ECS was founded in 1983 and is now one of San Francisco’s foremost agencies serving homeless people.

ECS’s mission is to help homeless and very low-income people obtain the housing, jobs, shelter, and essential services needed to prevent and end homelessness. The agency provides emergency shelter and meals, supportive housing, education and vocational training, and specialized services for homeless families, seniors, and adults with disabilities.

Beneficiary population

92% of ECS’s 6,000 clients are currently or formerly homeless. 40% are African American, 28% Caucasian, 13% Latino, 10% Asian/Pacific Islander, 1% Native American, and 7% of mixed or other ethnicity. Over 60% of ECS clients live with disabilities, chronic illness, substance abuse disorders, cognitive impairments or other medical or behavioral health challenges.

Emergency shelter

ECS is the largest provider of shelter services in San Francisco, aiding over 3,500 homeless men and women per year. ECS operates two year-round, 24-hour shelters: Next Door and The Sanctuary. Together they provide temporary shelter and meals to more than 540 single adults each day. ECS coordinates with the San Francisco Interfaith Council to run the Winter Interfaith Shelter, adding 80 - 100 nightly shelter beds during the harsh winter months. In addition to shelter, ECS supplies residents with daily nutritious meals along with support groups, showers, laundry, and storage facilities at its year-round shelters. ECS’s behavioral health team provides case management, substance abuse counseling, and other mental health services at five of San Francisco’s largest shelters.

Supportive housing

ECS’s supportive housing buildings are nationally recognized as model programs by the Corporation for Supportive Housing. Nine in total, ECS housing sites provide a permanent home with supportive services to over 1,000 men, women and children, all of whom are formerly homeless. ECS’s ninth housing site, the 134-unit Bishop Swing Community House, was completed in 2009 and LEED-certified as an energy efficient “green” building. It is now home to 134 formerly homeless, dual-diagnosed men and women.

ECS housing sites have a 96% retention rate, meaning that the vast majority of tenants are able to retain their housing with the support services ECS offers them. ECS’s support services include employment counseling, case management, health education, food pantries, meals and other community activities.

Canon Kip Senior Center

ECS’s Canon Kip Senior Center is open 365 days a year and annually serves over 1,000 homeless and low-income older adults with daily nutritious meals, health screenings, benefits counseling, exercise and recreational programs, emergency housing assistance, and other vital services. In 2009, the Senior Center began coordinating the city-wide Aging and Disability Resources Center, providing an additional 3,000 low-income seniors and disabled adults with information and referral services.

Skills Center and the CHEFS program

ECS’s Skills Center enables homeless and low-income adults to sharpen their literacy skills, advance their education, prepare for GED exams, and learn important job skills. CHEFS, a 6-month culinary training program, prepares homeless adults for gaining employment in the food service industry. In 2009, over 700 homeless or low-income students increased their job skills and education level through the ECS Skills Center. Graduates of the CHEFS program experienced a 75% job success rate, despite the weak economy.