SC Johnson Partners with Compass to Expand Housing Services and Provide Meals During COVID-19 Crisis Compass Family Services has received a grant for $65,000 from SC Johnson to help families who are experiencing homelessness. $50,000 of these funds provide Compass with much needed support to serve the 6,000 parents and children the organization works with each year. This funding is the Venture level of Compass’ Community Investment Grant for corporate partnerships and will provide comprehensive services for homeless families to develop personalized housing plans and fostering stability. This includes shelter, childcare, employment, and educational assistance. The SC Johnson funding will also support Compass’ Behavioral Health Services program that provides mental healthcare for parents and children individually as well as family therapy to address trauma and abuse experienced during homelessness. The impact of this generous grant will help 30 families to become stably housed, economically self-sufficient, and achieve family well-being. The remaining $15,000 will provide groceries and hot meals to students who are currently out of school due to COVID-19 and regularly rely on school-provided meal options. “This is an unspeakably difficult time for everyone, but families facing homelessness were already extremely vulnerable when the pandemic hit, and thus are feeling its impact particularly hard,” said Erica Kisch, Executive Director of Compass Family Services. “We are incredibly grateful for SC Johnson’s generosity and their commitment to the community. With their support, we are better able to do more to help these parents and children to weather this terrible storm.” Compass Family Services provides childcare, healthcare, education, employment, shelter, transitional housing, mental healthcare, legal services and a host of basic-needs services to address each family’s unique circumstances as they work toward housing stability, self-sufficiency and well-being.

We are proud to announce our Employee of the Month - Jacqui Jackson Jacqui is a hard-working, enthusiastic, smart and deeply compassionate Case Manager at SF HOME. SF HOME is a Compass program which rapidly re-houses homeless families so that they can work towards long-term economic self-sufficiency. This program also helps families at risk of homelessness to stabilize and maintain their housing. Jacqui often goes above and beyond for her clients, whether it’s spending all day with them at a community college or advocating that they receive an extension in services. She does not shy away from challenging conversations, or the opportunity to push her clients towards further growth. Jacqui also goes above and beyond for the SF HOME team. After asking to take on more responsibility, she began providing housing search assistance to very low income families with Section 8 vouchers and triaging clients for Homelessness Prevention Assistance. She has started to co- facilitate a self-care workshop with the Family Resource Center Team too. Jacqui radiates positivity, creativity and is a constant voice for positive change. Thank you Jacqui for the talent, intelligence, and thoughtfulness you dedicate to our clients, team and community as a whole.

We held the ribbon cutting ceremony for our new service hub for Compass families at 37 Grove Street on September 20, 2018. Launching a $30M comprehensive campaign to fund the purchase and remodel of this new site as well as fund three years of Compass programming was a necessary leap of faith. It was a well-thought-out leap in the knowledge that owning our building would ensure Compass Family Services would escape the City’s rental market to serve families experiencing homelessness, and families who are at risk, well into the future. Following the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order, 37 Grove Street immediately became a distri­bution hub for emergency support to families. The location was central to our families living in and around the Tenderloin and Mid-Market neighborhoods as well as easily accessible for large deliveries of groceries and supplies, and for staff to load up for distribution to Compass families housed throughout the Bay Area. Our previous location at 995 Market Street would not have allowed for hundreds of families each week lining up to receive support services. No other Compass locations could have accommodated such efforts. We are extremely fortunate to have secured 37 Grove Street in time to be ready for 2020’s pandemic challenges. As we approach our final year of Housing. Support. Hope: The Campaign for the San Francisco Family , we are – at the time of this publication – at 93% of our goal. Compass’ ability to act in this time of extreme crisis is due to the many donors who listened to our plan and invested in our work and our families – in all our community. Compass Family Services is like a great ship, first docked at the Ferry Building in 1914 and now stationed across from City Hall. We carry hopes, struggles, victories, and losses of the past, and those to come. We have lasted on staff determination and commitment to serving families, exemplary donors, and dedicated board members. We are a ship fighting for the privilege of obsolescence, to be out of commission. Planning for the Recovery Ahead When the pandemic crisis positioned itself on top of the housing crisis in San Francisco, we knew it would be a major setback for Compass families. We also knew we would see an increase in the number of families seeking services. We are diligent about collecting as much data as possible on the effects of the pandemic on Compass families. One thing that our data makes very clear – there is a growing back rent crisis looming. Early identified debt from Compass families totaled more than $500,000. We are already providing back rent relief and this past holiday season, adapted our annual Adopt-a-Family holiday project to include back rent support as an option for donors. Donors responded with more than $300,000 in back-rent support. The economic impact of the pandemic on our families is dramatic, of course, and so is the emotional toll. Families are experiencing an increase in domestic violence and abuse. Many families are doubled or tripled up in small apartments to avoid being outside with their children. Overcrowding along with the stresses of losing their income and childcare, and with the threat of losing their housing, is seeding long-term mental health issues. Our school-aged children are falling further behind and early childhood development is threatened for the youngest in our client families. Over 90% of Compass families are people of color and it’s critical to serving our families that we understand the current moment, including the racial reckoning our nation is dealing with post-George Floyd. Our work today includes battling the systemic racism and inequality that has plagued our nation for centuries. We look to the challenges ahead with determination and as fierce advocates for our families and our community. We also look to you and those we choose to represent us in government to join us in the good trouble and good work that needs to be done.

Jake Kanter Meet Jake! Jake first came to Compass last year as a volunteer during our 23rd annual Adopt-a-Family holiday event where he helped receive, move, and organize hundreds of boxes of holiday gifts for families in need throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. After volunteering for our holiday event, Jake continues to support our work as a long term volunteer making time to come on site to our 37 Grove Services Hub each week while also juggling a full-time position at Twilio. Donations of essential items for families, such as diapers, wipes, food, clothing and more have poured into Compass during the pandemic and Jake is always here to lend a helping hand to sort clothes, move mountains of diapers and wipes, and stack cases of hand sanitizer and shampoo. Although this is physically demanding work, Jake's support in helping manage our resources has allowed Compass staff more time to directly support families looking for help at our front door. Donations of diapers, wipes, hand sanitizer, and baby shampoo Compass has been very fortunate to have Jake as part of a small team of dedicated in-person volunteers who provide incredible support every day on site during the last 15 months of the COVID-19 health crisis. Jake's deep commitment to Compass and the families we serve led him to join our Leadership Council and he was recently elected as Secretary for the next two years. All of us at Compass Family Services deeply appreciate Jake's dedication to serving our community by volunteering his time and his talent to support our mission to break the cycles of poverty and family homelessness. Thank you, Jake!

Mike is a long-standing supporter of Compass and the homeless and at-risk families we serve. Mike has been a Compass Board Member since 2002. As the Technology Committee Chair, Mike, with help from Twitter, led the installation of wireless internet at Compass’ program sites. As the COVID-19 crisis intensified, Mike and his family rose to the occasion to make sure that Compass families are cared for during Shelter-in-Place. Since Shelter-in-Place started, Mike has on a weekly basis delivered meals from Che Fico to the families living at Compass Clara House. As part of our Hotels for Homeless Families Initiative, Mike, along with his family and friends contributed 27 microwaves so that families sheltering in the SOMA hotel are able heat up their food and eat warm meals. He also helped install a refrigerator and freezer at the hotel so that families will be able to safely store food during their stay. Thank you Mike for your contribution over the years and for your amazing dedication during the pandemic!

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.