Agency Details:

Mission
To provide services to seniors that promote independent living while maintaining their dignity and self-esteem.

Description:
Curry Senior Center provides a full compliment of services to support the isolated, homebound and frail elders living in San Francisco's Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods. Curry Senior Center operates a full-service primary care clinic, provides congregate meals; substance abuse prevention and treatment counseling; social and educational programs; and assistance with housing, benefits assistance and other essentials of daily living. Medical professionals make house calls to seniors who are unable to attend medical appointments. Bilingual staff translate in Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

History:
The Curry Senior Center began as a storefront health center in 1972 to address the problems of isolation and premature mortality among the elderly in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. The neighborhood’s population of low-income, frail seniors were often terrified to leave their apartments or residential hotel rooms to visit a doctor or even to buy groceries. Many of these isolated seniors died unattended from illnesses – some brought on by malnutrition –that were easily cured in their early stages if the patient was seen and treated. Today, an estimated 13,000 seniors live in the Tenderloin: 10% of whom are homeless; 75% live alone; 17% are over 85 years of age; and 20% are non-English speaking and need translation services.

Contact people:

Arlo Bushnell, Development Manager, (phone), (email) David Knego, Executive Director, (phone), (email)

Address:

333 Turk Street San Francisco, CA 94102 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.curryseniorcenter.org

Directions:

Located on Turk between Leavenworth and Hyde. Easy access in Civic Center neighborhood: 3 blocks from Van Ness Avenue. 2.5 blocks from Civic Center BART/MUNI   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Civic Center BART/MUNI,   Walk distance (in minutes): 5   Nearest Bus Stop: 5, 3 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Besides English, which languages are spoken at your agency?
	Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese
What is the minimum age for volunteers at your agency?
	18 or less if accompanied by an adult
Is your agency wheelchair accessible?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 10?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 20?
	No

Last updated on January 26, 2010