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BlackRock Giving Days event provides $190,000 to fund Compass programs this year and that’s not all BlackRock and their employees are doing to support homeless and at-risk families . . . Last September, BlackRock held its annual fundraising event to support the San Francisco Bay Area. The event was held virtually due to the COVID-19 crisis and raised more than $750,000 to benefit four local nonprofits. The BlackRock Giving Days ’ donation of $190,000 will help fund Compass programs that provide shelter, housing, childcare, mental healthcare, educational assistance and employment services to San Francisco’s homeless and at-risk families. The generous funding will also support our COVID-19 crisis response that provides families impacted by the crisis with emergency support, such as groceries, diapers and other essential services. For 10 years, BlackRock has been a strong supporter of Compass and the families we serve. What started as employee donations and volunteering, eventually became a longstanding partnership through their annual BlackRock Gives program, where employees nominate local nonprofits they support for program grants. This resulted in annual grants for the past six years to fund Compass Children’s Center, which provides full-day early education and childcare for children ages 0-5 . Each year, BlackRock employees also volunteer at Compass Children’s Center’s graduation ceremony to celebrate the achievements of our young students and their families. BlackRock employees have also been longtime participants in our annual Adopt-a-Family project where we match Compass families with donors who fulfill their holiday wish list. This past holiday season, employees at BlackRock organized and adopted six families - that’s 36 parents and children! - and employees donated an additional $14,000 to support Compass programs. The COVID-19 crisis has had a huge impact on Compass families and on average, families lost 40% of their income due to lack of employment. At the beginning of shelter-in-place, Compass immediately adapted our services and began supporting families with groceries and other essential items. Families who were beginning to realize housing stability suddenly had the rug pulled out from under them. Beyond supporting our programs and crisis response with generous funding, BlackRock stepped in to also provide gift cards for food, pizzas for families residing at Compass Family Shelter and in our temporary hotel program, and donated cases of hand sanitizer to protect our families and program staff. Compass is grateful to partner with BlackRock and their employees who share our vision of a just society in which all children and their families are able to flourish in a safe and stable home. Thank you!

We are proud to announce and excited to celebrate, Christina Castillo, previously Lead Case Manager and now Assistant Program Director at our Compass SF HOME program, as our Employee of the Month. Compass SF Home is one of nine programs at Compass and promotes long-term housing stability for families through housing search assistance, rental subsidies, case management, and one-time financial assistance to cover rent for families at risk of eviction, as well as security deposits and first month's rent. Christina goes above and beyond for her client families and for the Compass SF HOME team. Over the last year of this terrible crisis, Christina has stepped up to the plate to help meet the growing needs of Compass families in new ways, such as shopping at the Food Bank to help stock our food pantry at our 37 Grove Services Hub. (She also started the Food Bank program for Compass several years back!). Additionally, she initiated a new partnership with El Corazon furniture store that will help connect newly housed families with furniture resources. Christina is a team player and has taken on a much larger caseload during staff transitions and advocated to improve Compass SF HOME’s partnerships with financial empowerment programs, such as the SELF program and Smart Money coaching. Christina combines compassion, advocacy and healthy boundaries as she empowers her client families to become more self-sufficient. She does not shy away from crucial conversations with clients, and she is not afraid to stand up to an inappropriate landlord! Thank you, Christina, for the amazing impact you are making for Compass and the families we serve. We are so grateful to have you as part of our Compass Family!

Compass’ Bilingual Policy Associate, Yessica Hernandez , and members of San Francisco’s Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) and HEART (a program of Urban Alchemy) gather for a photo at a pop-up event to support individuals living in large vehicles near Lake Merced.     Want to help? We need multilingual volunteers, particularly those fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, to help us with outreach.  Click here to sign up.     On a recent sunny evening, as rowers raced along Lake Merced, homeless outreach workers gathered around folding tables filled with pizza, water, and chips. Staff from Compass Family Services, the Homeless Outreach Team (HOT), and HEART (a program of Urban Alchemy) shared information with local families and individuals about the new housing and financial services that will begin in November for eligible individuals and families living in large vehicles November.  They also shared information about upcoming parking restrictions for large vehicles and the permit process  that will be available to those seeking housing services.      For months, Compass’ Policy team has been knocking on RV doors in the area, learning about the families living in the area and directly advocating on their behalf.  Compass advocated for evening and weekend outreach, so that busy families could juggle work, school pick-ups and these important conversations with workers. That night at Lake Merced, all the families on the block, except for one, attended the event.     One gentleman joyfully leapt into the air celebrating that he was eligible for services and a permit. After the event, several of the families came to Compass’ Central City Access Point to complete their housing assessment and learn more about services that are available to their families and children.    Compass Family Services’ Policy Director, Megan Rohrer (in blue), and volunteer, jj Dollarhide (in black), knock on the door of a large vehicle in the Bayview. Compass needs volunteers to help survey and support families living in vehicles.    The first outreach event at Lake Merced was so popular the city scheduled similar events every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday through October. Compass joined a similar event in the Bayview neighborhood, surveying and supporting the families near Carroll Ave and Ingalls Street in Bayview / Hunters Point. 100 individuals living in large vehicles, mostly Spanish speakers, attended the event.     The mayor’s office estimates that about 60% of the 400-500 large vehicles throughout San Francisco are occupied by families with children under the age of eighteen. One family, a mother with six children living in an RV, joined the event in the Bayview hoping to get the support they needed to move indoors. In addition to housing services, participating in the large vehicle program will also give the family access to funds for surrendering their vehicle, relief from city debt and financial classes.     Compass’ Policy Team will continue to advocate for families at as many outreach events as we are able, but we need your help. We need multilingual volunteers, particularly those fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, to help us conduct outreach.  Click here to  sign up , or contact Compass Policy Director Megan Rohrer at mrorher@compass-sf.org  to learn more.

This summer, Compass Family Services piloted something bold and deeply needed: the Black Family Equity Initiative (BFEI). For six weeks, beginning June 9 and ending July 14, Black families gathered each Monday afternoon to share space, learn together, and strengthen the skills and confidence needed to navigate life’s challenges. Each session was intentionally designed to affirm the lived experiences of Black parents and caregivers, while offering tools they could take home and apply immediately. The idea was simple yet powerful: to create a safe and supportive environment where Black families feel seen, heard, and empowered. The impact was profound.   A Journey Through Six Sessions The series featured six sessions, each facilitated by trusted voices from both Compass and the wider community: Navigating Race & Identity as a Black Family with Elgin Rose Sr. Housing Stability & Legal Rights  with Connie Swain Mental Health & Well-Being  with Rachel Douglass, LMFT Parenting & Family Relationships  with Dr. Khalid White Educational Advocacy: Helping Kids Succeed in School  with LaShonda Penn Financial Literacy  with Adam Tait, Compass Board   Families left each session with something tangible: a clearer understanding of their housing rights, new strategies for talking to children about race, simple routines to support wellness, or practical tools to manage a household budget. These weren’t abstract lessons; they were real solutions for real families.   Voices That Mattered What made the BFEI most meaningful were the voices of the families themselves. In the final survey, 94% of participants reported that the program’s goals were clearly communicated, 81% found the content relevant, and nearly all participants (94%) stated that they would recommend a program like this to another Black family. One parent shared: “Excellent presenters and information. If I could give any advice, it would be to have more programs like this year-round. We need to keep this kind of information open to our community!" Another reflected: “Rhett was an amazing facilitator. He chose great speakers, was welcoming, engaging, and respectful. I wish this happened more frequently it would be a great class for new Black moms and dads.”   These voices are reminders that equity work is not just about numbers; it’s about creating spaces where people feel valued, respected, and supported.   Seeds for the Future The series ended with 10 households receiving $150 gift cards as recognition for their commitment to attending five or more sessions. Even more important than incentives was the sense of community that took root. Families asked for more opportunities to gather, more conversations that centered their experiences, and more resources that met them where they are. Out of that request grew the Black Parents Monthly Drop-In Group, an evolution of the work started with BFEI. Meeting every 4th Wednesday from 1:00 – 2:00 PM at 37 Grove Street, the drop-in group is open to Black mothers, fathers, and caregivers of all family structures. It offers what families told us they wanted most: consistent community, meaningful dialogue, and resources that affirm and uplift. The Black Family Equity Initiative was more than a pilot program. It was a reminder of what happens when we intentionally invest in equity. It was proof that when we center Black families, provide culturally responsive tools, and honor their lived experiences, we create pathways for entire communities to thrive.

Finding safe and stable housing is already a challenge for families experiencing homelessness, but for families using rental subsidies, discrimination by landlords can add yet another obstacle. Too often, landlords simply refuse to rent to someone with a subsidy, even though that’s illegal in California. That’s why Compass Family Services has been working with the Housing Rights Initiative (HRI), a nonprofit that investigates housing discrimination and pushes for fair treatment of renters. How We Started Working Together Families came to Compass with troubling stories of being denied housing based on their subsidy. So in late 2024, we connected with HRI through our friends at Legal Link. HRI had concerning news from their own research: 44% of properties in San Francisco and 58% in Oakland demonstrated explicit discrimination against voucher holders. And these numbers don’t even include cases of implicit bias, which HRI estimates could increase the rate of discrimination by an additional 20–30%. We started sharing information about the cities and neighborhoods where our housing team has searched for homes for families with vouchers. HRI then began “testing” landlords in those areas to see if they would rent to someone using a housing subsidy. Turning Results into Change When HRI finds clear discrimination, they work with the California Civil Rights Department to take action. If a case goes to mediation, landlords may be required to reform their practices and give advance notice to voucher holders that apartments will soon become available. One major outcome of this work: HRI has reached settlements with dozens of real estate companies across California. In the Bay area, these settlements often include a provision that Compass will be given a heads up on vacant units, so Compass families know when to apply. Making an Immediate Difference Thanks to this partnership, Compass housing locators now receive regular updates from HRI about landlords and property managers who are open to working with families who use housing subsidies. This information has become a critical tool in our housing search process, helping us connect families to homes more quickly and efficiently. The work isn’t over. HRI is still investigating cases in the Bay Area and beyond. And Compass will keep sending them leads on properties we suspect might be discriminating against our clients. Every family deserves a fair chance at housing. By teaming up with groups like HRI, we’re breaking down barriers and opening doors for families in our programs.

This is part two of our blog series focusing on families sheltering in vehicles throughout San Francisco. This post highlights the outreach and surveying Compass is currently conducting. Additional posts will cover Compass’ advocacy and support of vehicularly housed families and amplify their voices.    Figure 1  Yessica Hernandez Grijalva knocks on an RV door, to survey the family’s needs and let them know about services that are available to them.  Yessica Hernandez Grijalva , a Bilingual Policy Associate at Compass Family Services, called out to RV residents while knocking on the doors of over 50 Recreational Vehicles (RVs):  “Hola, mi nombre es Yessica y soy de Compass Family Services.  Hello, my name is Yessica and I am from Compass Family Services.  We are surveying families!”    In one RV, a Portuguese-speaking father asked questions about the outreach materials taped on doors earlier that day. He shared his fears about how the changing rules would affect his family and was eager to learn more about Compass’ services.    Up the street, a mother, father, and toddler excitedly greeted Yessica. She had met with them previously and told them about how families can access services at Compass  or other access points . The family reported that they had come to Compass, signed up for housing, and had even participated in housing workshops.   Compass’ outreach to families living in vehicles was originally planned to ensure that undercounted families would be included in the January 2026 Point in Time Count (PIT). Similar efforts before the 2024 PIT Count helped document the 97.6% increase in homeless families since 2022 .    The recent changes in large vehicle parking laws shifted the focus of many of Yessica’s conversations with RV residents.  Families are eager learn more about the new parking laws, permitting, and how they can engage in advocacy at community meetings. Compass helps with weekly meetings that support RV residents, in partnership with the End Poverty Tows Coalition .   Outreach and surveying of families will be conducted over coming weeks. Compass will also conduct a focus group to learn additional information about the prevention, care and support families living in vehicles need.  A mother of two elementary aged children shared information with Yessica about her family’s dreams while sitting on the steps of their RV. Their excited puppy eagerly played in the grass nearby. The children ran, danced and played in the grass.  Compass’ outreach seeks to ensure that families understand their rights, know how to access services and have more time to play on a beautiful day.

At Compass Family Services, we aim to support parents by helping them heal, connect, and grow alongside their families. Central to this mission is Triple P, or the Positive Parenting Program, a 12-week evidence-based course designed to equip parents with the skills and confidence to help families raise healthy, resilient children.     What is Triple P?     Developed in Australia more than 30 years ago to assist highest-risk families, Triple P is now implemented in over 25 countries and is one of the most rigorously evaluated parenting programs in the world. At Compass, we tailor the program to support families facing housing instability, generational trauma, involvement with Child Protective Services, and mental health or substance use issues to help create stronger, more connected family systems.     Learning Through Connection     The program begins with a pre-course evaluation that invites parents to reflect on their emotional well-being, their relationships with their children, and their own upbringing. The program is then divided into two parts.  The first five weeks focus on understanding child behavior, developmental stages, responding to defiance, and establishing routines.   The second half encourages deeper reflection on personal parenting patterns, exploring questions such as: How were you parented? What messages did you internalize? How do these patterns influence your parenting today?    Francisco Ferrer, our lead facilitator, emphasizes building parenting skills to nurture healthy family relationships. He makes Triple P sessions interactive by including a range of exercises like role-playing, group discussions, and videos. To further support this learning process, Francisco prioritizes creating a collaborative and engaging environment and deliberately avoids a traditional lecture format to "help parents discover what works best for their families."    This kind of supportive, hands-on environment is especially important for parents who have experienced trauma. Many participants face significant challenges such as unemployment, housing insecurity, or involvement with family court. However, regardless of how they arrive, all parents are welcomed into the space with a hot meal and open conversation, a ritual that Francisco emphasizes is essential to building trust within the program: “That meal matters,” he explains. “It shows parents they are cared for... and they appreciate this structure in their day.”    Celebrating Success   The program concludes with a graduation ceremony where certificates are awarded, reflections are shared, and small gifts such as toys or gift cards are given. Francisco reflects, “This is my favorite part. For some parents, it is the first time they have ever graduated from anything. It gives them proof that they committed to something and succeeded.”

This is the first of a series of blogs focusing on families sheltering in vehicles throughout San Francisco. This post outlines the hardships families currently navigate. Additional posts will cover Compass’ advocacy work, some of the latest efforts to help vehicularly housed residents move indoors and amplify the voices of families living in vehicles.     My name is Yessica Hernandez, and I am a bilingual policy associate with Compass Family Services. I am also a passionate advocate for families sheltering in RVs. I guide families through the maze of bureaucracy and witness the constant fear in their eyes—the anxiety, sadness, and frustration. Watching them try to navigate a system that seems designed to make survival harder is heartbreaking. I am there to support them through the process, standing by their side as they try to clear tickets, pay fees, and fight to get their homes back.  San Francisco has one of the most expensive costs of living in the world. Many working families have been forced out of traditional housing and into RVs, not by choice, but as a last resort to avoid street homelessness. These families, often with young children, are trying to survive under incredibly difficult circumstances, namely the constant threat of having their shelter towed. Towing RVs leads to the loss of shelter and the destruction of personal belongings, children's items, and vital documents needed to access services, enroll in school, or apply for housing. Parents are scared to leave their homes unattended because they risk coming back to find everything gone. The stress and trauma of RV living is insurmountable, and humane housing solutions are the best way forward.  The process of retrieving a towed RV and paying tickets is overwhelming, especially when families have limited resources. If families do not have the money to pay, they must navigate a web of organizations and services, each with different requirements. For families with limited time, resources, or transportation, this process can stretch over several days, creating unnecessary delays and adding to their anxiety. Many families don’t have the luxury of time. They still need to work, care for children, and try to maintain a semblance of stability, all while struggling to regain access to their homes.   The city’s current housing access system, known as Coordinated Entry (CE), often struggles to accurately account for the needs of RV-dwelling families. Assessments used to determine housing priority often produce in low scores for these families, even when they face urgent and unsafe conditions. As a result, they are frequently passed over for necessary housing opportunities. Additionally, RV families struggle with basic survival needs. There are few, if any, accessible places to legally dump greywater or trash, and doing so often means driving hours away, costing families time, fuel, and money. Access to clean water for drinking, cooking, and bathing is limited, and weekly street cleaning forces families to relocate at early hours.  Many families also face harassment from housed neighbors who don’t want them there. RV living is often viewed negatively by the broader community, with some considering it unsightly and disruptive to the city’s aesthetic. While it is understandable that the presence of RVs can be uncomfortable for others, this judgment can dehumanize families who are simply trying to survive. Displacing these families only worsens their situation, pushing them further into crisis. San Francisco’s focus must be finding humane solutions.  Despite these challenges, many families are doing everything they can to stay afloat.  These are not families choosing to live off the grid—they are hardworking, contributing members of the community, but they cannot afford rent in one of the most expensive housing markets in the country.  The psychological toll on families is immense. The fear of losing their home every day, combined with public harassment, judgment, and a lack of safe spaces, creates deep anxiety and feelings of worthlessness. Children may experience emotional trauma, disrupted education, and social isolation. Parents often carry guilt and shame, even when they are working multiple jobs to try and survive. The loss of routine, community, and dignity leaves lasting emotional scars.  At the end of the day, I return   home, and you likely do too. These families don't have that option. They are not asking for special treatment; they want to be seen, supported, and provided with real solutions. Living in an RV is not a long-term answer; it is a stopgap in a system that fails them. By working with the city to better coordinate between departments, create more compassionate policy decisions, and tailor services to the realities of families sheltering in RVs, we aim to prevent further trauma and help these families transition into safe, stable housing.

On Friday afternoon, the Compass Children’s Center community came together to celebrate a major milestone—graduation day for the Class of 2025! Families, teachers, and friends filled the space with smiles, applause, and more than a few happy tears as our preschoolers marked the end of a wonderful year and the beginning of their next big adventure: kindergarten.  Program Director Heidi Lamar  welcomed families and shared reflections on the year highlighting the strength, growth, and community that each child brings to Compass Children’s Center. Her words were followed by the presentation of diplomas, a moment made extra special by Preschool Site Supervisor Wei Ying Jiang , who joined Heidi in congratulating each and presenting them a personalized teddy bear.  After the ceremony, families gathered for a lively reception featuring delicious food provided by Mariposas  and an irresistible spread of cookies and doughnuts from STK Steakhouse .  Check out these moments from the special day! We are so grateful to our generous event sponsors:   BlackRock  (Event Venue Sponsor) Salesforce  (Backpack Sponsor) Mariposas  (Catering Sponsor) STK Steakhouse  (Dessert Sponsor) Your support helped make this day one to remember.  Congratulations to our graduates, and thank you to the families, teachers, and supporters who made this celebration possible. We can't wait to see what the Class of 2025 does next!

As a development intern for Compass Family Services, I have gotten the opportunity to immerse myself in the world of basic income this summer through Compass’ Guaranteed Basic Income pilot ' It All Adds Up '. I came in with a vague understanding of basic income and randomized control trials, and have since gained a deeper understanding of how agencies like Compass can play a crucial role in contributing to research, particularly in guaranteed basic income. During my time with Compass, I have gotten the chance to work on a process evaluation for the pilot and attend the Basic Income Guaranteed (BIG) conference in San Francisco. I have had an incredibly rewarding learning experience, and the following are my key insights.  Basic income is a social welfare proposal that advocates for regular, no-strings-attached cash payments to members of a community. Over the past century, the idea has gone through three distinct waves of support, with the third and most significant resurgence starting in the early 2010s largely as a response to the 2008 financial crisis. With this renewed interest in basic income, attending the 22nd Annual BIG Conference this July was an especially exciting opportunity for me. The two-day conference, called "Meeting the Moment," sparked discussions on the history, current state, and future trajectory of basic income. It illustrated how basic income has evolved from a fringe idea into a powerful social movement, undergoing a significant transformation along the way. The BIG Conference 2024 Although universal basic income (UBI) gained widespread attention during Andrew Yang's 2020 Democratic presidential campaign, the pandemic marked a critical shift in the national conversation about basic income. UBI, a policy proposal that advocates for regular, unconditional payments to all individuals regardless of their financial situation, was initially designed to address unemployment gaps and provide a safety net for everyone. However, the focus has since shifted to Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI), a more targeted form of financial support designed to address the structural inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic. Many speakers at the conference highlighted GBI's deep roots in economic justice. With mentions of figures like Johnnie Tillmon, an African-American welfare rights activist, they emphasized the importance of centering marginalized communities in economic movements as early as the mid-20th century. These discussions on economic and racial justice are especially relevant to Compass' mission, as 93% of the families we served in 2023-2024 identified as families of color. Our work addresses the intersection of poverty and racial inequality, reflecting the needs of the communities we support. As Compass launches its own GBI pilot, we join a growing national movement exploring diverse approaches to basic income. Participants and speakers from across the country shared insights from their own GBI pilots, each with their own target populations, time frames, and financial structures. From providing financial stability for artists to assisting youth aging out of foster care, these pilots demonstrated the various ways GBI can make a tangible impact and provided hope for all the basic income advocates in the room.  The BIG Conference 2021 Although UBI pilots are less common in the United States compared to GBI initiatives, their impact and innovative approaches were prominently featured at the conference, particularly in international settings. One such UBI pilot, presented at the conference, was conducted in India and Bangladesh. It introduced a cash-plus model where direct cash payments provide not only immediate relief but also act as a catalyst for deeper community transformation. This pilot targeted informal settlements, showing how this approach empowers community members, thereby building trust and fostering empowerment. This example underscores the qualitative impacts that basic income can have, extending far beyond mere financial relief. It illustrates how such initiatives can inspire collective action and self-organization within communities, showing UBI's potential to drive not just economic change but social solidarity. The Economic Security Project 2023 While pilots are crucial for building momentum, looking ahead to the future of basic income, the movement also requires effective narrative building to overcome misconceptions and influence policy. The conference emphasized this by highlighting the Economic Security Project’s storytelling guide , which aims to ensure that the results of pilots influence policy and drive tangible change. These narratives are crucial in countering deeply held cultural beliefs and emerging anti-GBI movements  that threaten progress. By reshaping perceptions, they can shift the view that financial insecurity is a personal failure and instead highlight the structural barriers embedded in our economy and laws. My time at Compass has offered a comprehensive view into the multifaceted nature of the basic income movement. From the historical evolution of basic income concepts to the strategic implementation of diverse GBI pilots across the United States, each element has revealed the potential of these programs to address systemic inequalities. Compass’ own initiative, 'It All Adds Up', is a testament to how tailored, community-centric approaches can enhance the lives of participants, reflecting the unique challenges and strengths of each family. As we look to the future, it’s clear that continuing to refine the narratives around basic income and learn from each pilot’s outcomes will be crucial in driving the broader acceptance and success of basic income initiatives. This experience has not only enriched my understanding, but has also solidified my commitment to advocating for economic systems that support and uplift every individual.