Episcopal Community Services' mission—that of helping homeless and very low-income people obtain the housing, jobs, shelter, and essential services needed to prevent and end homelessness—guides our four main programs: shelter, housing, adult education/ vocational services, and senior services.

Description:
Founded 23 years ago, ECS strives to “help homeless and very low-income people obtain the housing, jobs, shelter, and essential services needed to prevent and end homelessness.” This past year, ECS provided nearly 6,000 people with a continuum of programs: shelters, permanent housing, adult education, job training, and senior services. ECS’s shelters provided 4,468 individuals with a clean, safe place to sleep, two hot meals a day, hygiene facilities, a small storage locker, and clean clothes. ECS’s Canon Kip Senior Center provided daily hot lunches, recreational and educational programming and other services to 1,046 extremely low-income seniors, one quarter of them homeless. Our 11 supportive housing sites provided permanent housing to 828 formerly homeless individuals, as well as case management, mental health services, job counseling, numerous peer support groups and community activities. ECS’s Canon Barcus family housing, the main site of the Skills Center, also provided a childcare center, an on-site clinic, a children’s therapy room, and other family services.

The primary population we serve are homeless and formerly homeless individuals in the Tenderloin and South of Market areas of San Francisco. Last year, 36% of our clients were African American, 30% Caucasian, 12% Asian/Pacific Islander, 12% Latino, 1% Native American, and 8% other or unknown. Roughly 22% of our clientele are youth or young adults between the ages of 18-34, another 20% are seniors, and the rest are between the ages of 35 and 59.

History:
Episcopal Community Services (ECS) developed from two separate streams of charitable impulse. The first, Canon Kip Community House, started in the 1890’s as a settlement house, helping the poor and recent immigrants settle into the community, by providing childcare, food, and other services. As needs in the community shifted so did Canon Kip and by the 1970’s it functioned primarily as a senior center for the South of Market neighborhood serving Filipino Americans.

In the early 1980’s, homelessness as a social issue seemed to arise out of nowhere to quickly become a major phenomenon in San Francisco and other cities. Then Mayor, Dianne Feinstein, called Episcopal Bishop, William Swing, and asked his support to house people temporarily. The first shelter, in the basement of Grace Cathedral, was quickly outgrown – so a more permanent shelter needed to be found. The Episcopal Sanctuary was relocated at Canon Kip Community House for a few years until permanent site at an old bath house at 8th and Howard Streets was secured 1986. The Sanctuary continues to operate at that site today, providing 200 people each night with a warm bed and two meals.

In 1989 Canon Kip and the Sanctuary merged to form Episcopal Community Services. Since that time, through our extensive experience with homeless people, and the contributing factors leading to homelessness, ECS has developed a four-pronged approach that empowers the success of individuals to find and keeping housing:

The Shelters program that provides temporary shelter and up to six month stays including case management support at the Sanctuary and the Next Door shelter, a 280 bed program. More than 40% of ECS shelter residents who utilize case management services find more permanent housing or a drug treatment program upon completion of their stay.

The Skills Center offers basic literacy classes, GED preparation, computer classes, and vocational guidance and training to more than 900 homeless and low-income people each year at no cost. The CHEFS program, a vocational training program of the Skills Center trains homeless adults in food service and culinary work. More than 45 students successfully complete the six month program each year and go on to a variety of positions within the food service industry.

Canon Kip Senior Center provides comprehensive senior services to more than 1,000 seniors each year. Serving a hot lunch to over 70 people seven days a week, and ongoing occasions for fellowship, the senior center staff also provides case management support for elderly residents to help them stay in their home, receive appropriate health services, and help with budget issues. Additionally, nearly 250 homeless seniors receive housing guidance via a weekly support group and one-to-one case work.

In 1994, ECS opened Canon Kip Community House, San Francisco’s first new construction permanent supportive housing program for homeless adults with disabilities. Since then, ECS has built a permanent supportive housing apartment complex, Canon Barcus Community House, which is home to 47 formerly homeless families. In the interim, ECS has acquired eight additionally supportive housing sites for homeless adults. Today, we permanently house nearly 1,000 homeless men, women, and children, providing on-site social services in a successful effort to keep people housed.

Contact person: Mallory Hasick, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)
Main office number: (415) 487-3300
Office fax number: (415) 252-1743

Address:

165 Eighth Street San Francisco, CA 94103 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.ecs-sf.org

Directions:

Taking public transportation (MUNI or BART) get off at Civic Center and go south down Eighth Street past Mission. ECS is located on the West (or left) side of the street on the corner of Natoma and Eighth.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Civic Center,   Walk distance (in minutes): 5

Miscellaneous Information

Besides English, which languages are spoken at your agency?
	Spanish, Tagalog
What is the minimum age for volunteers at your agency?
	Eighteen
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

Overall Experience   
Robert Francis - Computer Skills Instructor at Canon Kip

I have sincerely enjoyed working with Leah Cerri, Lolita Kintinar and all of the other vounteers at the Canon Kip Center. The computer classes have allowed the seniors to connect with family members and the wealth of information that is available online. I highly recommend this organization to anyone who is looking to volunteer with a great community organization. posted by rhfranci on October 28, 2008