Your gift to the American Red Cross will support disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific.

To donate visit the Red Cross web site

For other information see:

Mayor Lee's Statement and SFGivesBack

 

Mayor Gavin Newsom today marked the 37th Project Homeless Connect (PHC) event held at Bill Graham  Civic Auditorium by announcing the opening of a permanent PHC office location at 187 Golden Gate Avenue early next year. The PHC office will provide information and referral services for clients needing assistance navigating the system of care in between the large bi-monthly events.

“Project Homeless Connect has changed the lives of thousands of people on the streets of San Francisco, enlisting thousands of volunteers to connect people in need with services and supportive housing,” said Mayor Newsom. “We’re moving in a different direction on homelessness, putting politics aside in favor of smart policy and measurable outcomes, with a 40% reduction in homelessness on our streets since I’ve been mayor. We must continue to make progress on homelessness, and the new permanent home for Project Homeless Connect will help ensure we keep moving in the right direction.” Read more.

Mayor Gavin Newsom today joined the San Francisco VA Medical Center, Swords to Plowshares and other veterans’ service organizations for Veterans Connect to link San Francisco’s former members of the United States Armed Services with housing, education, jobs and other available social services. Veterans Connect is affiliated with the City’s successful Project Homeless Connect (PHC) efforts.

“We owe an incredible debt of gratitude to all those men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and sacrificed so much for our country,” said Mayor Newsom. “We must honor them not just in word but with action and support to help them transition out of military service and into a fulfilling civilian life here at home. Veterans Connect is one way we are renewing our commitment to our veterans by taking responsibility for reducing homelessness and poverty among them.” Read more.

Mayor Gavin Newsom today joined the Glide Economic Development Corporation (GEDC) and the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC) to open a newly constructed supportive housing development located at 149 Mason Street.The eight-story development is comprised of 56 fully-furnished studio units, each with kitchen and private bath. The units are targeted to persons with incomes below $9,000 per year, all of them homeless or at risk at time of entry.

“These new units represent a commitment to compassionate and effective services delivered in a manner that respects individual dignity, personal strength, and self-determination,” said Mayor Newsom. “We will continue to build both affordable housing and permanent supportive housing so that those with disabilities, or those who just need a stable home, can avoid entering the emergency shelter system as they move from crisis to stability. Read more

As Southeast Asia and the South Pacific islands grapple with devastating earthquakes, a typhoon and a tsunami, the American Red Cross is helping to provide relief as part of the global Red Cross relief network. 
 
The tsunami that hit American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga on September 30 destroyed villages and displaced thousands of residents, and the Red Cross is responding. In American Samoa, the American Red Cross branch on the island is leading the response, focusing on providing food, water and needed supplies.In the sovereign nations of Samoa and Tonga, their respective Red Cross societies are running relief efforts to provide assistance to affected residents, including operating five camps for now homeless families.
 
The American Red Cross is working with other Red Cross organizations in the other disasters that have hit the Asia Pacific area in recent days. In Indonesia, two devastating earthquakes 24 hours apart have left nearly 1,000 dead and many others trapped. The Indonesian Red Cross has dispatched hundreds of volunteers to the quake zone to offer first aid services, shelter and other assistance for those in need, and is moving thousands of relief supplies to Padang. The American Red Cross is providing an initial $100,000 from the International Response Fund to support the Indonesian Red Cross and stands ready to provide additional support, should it be requested.
 
Last week’s Typhoon Ketsana wreaked havoc across the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, causing record-level floods, destroying houses and taking lives. In addition to the thousands of local Red Cross volunteers and employees who are providing emergency relief in their countries, the American Red Cross is contributing an initial $100,000 worth of supplies — including mosquito nets, jerry cans and blankets — to the Philippines from the Red Cross warehouse in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. An additional $50,000 cash is going to Vietnam to support their relief efforts. The American Red Cross is also sending a shelter specialist to the Philippines, and in preparation for an unrelated storm, Typhoon Parma, which is on track to hit the Philippines, the organization is sending a leadership team to Saipan to supplement the local chapter. Additional volunteers and supplies will be sent as needed.
 
How to Help
The American Red Cross honors donor intent. Please indicate at the time of the donation, which disaster you intend to support. General donations to each of the funds listed below are also accepted and preferred.
 
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE FUND
You can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year, crises like the recent earthquakes in Indonesia and the flooding and typhoons in the Philippines and Vietnam, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation.
 
DISASTER RELIEF FUND

You can help people affected by disasters, like the recent earthquake and floods in American Samoa, by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters. Your gift enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to victims of all disasters.

For more information please visit the American Red Cross web site