Our History
Hospitality House was founded in 1967, when the Tenderloin was experiencing an influx of LGBT youth flocking to one of America’s first epicenters for the burgeoning queer liberation movement: San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. Despite the positive legacy created by this movement, more than 3,000 of these youth found themselves living on the streets. Concerned residents in the Tenderloin partnered with this struggling population to form Hospitality House, initially a simple drop-in space offering food and activities to help homeless youth take an intermission from another night on the street. By 1985, Hospitality House had developed into the multiple-program agency it is today. The agency has shifted its demographic focus to meet changing needs of the community, transitioning from youth in the Tenderloin to now serving predominantly adult residents of San Francisco’s Tenderloin, Sixth Street Corridor, and Mid-Market neighborhoods struggling with homelessness, poverty, and the range of other socioeconomic issues facing residents here.
Our Mission
To build community strength by advocating for policies and rendering services which foster self-sufficiency and cultural enrichment. Hospitality House encourages self-help, mutual respect, and increased self-esteem. The goal of these efforts is to make the heart of San Francisco a better place for us all.
Hospitality House was founded in 1967, when the Tenderloin was experiencing an influx of LGBT youth flocking to one of America’s first epicenters for the burgeoning queer liberation movement: San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. Despite the positive legacy created by this movement, more than 3,000 of these youth found themselves living on the streets. Concerned residents in the Tenderloin partnered with this struggling population to form Hospitality House, initially a simple drop-in space offering food and activities to help homeless youth take an intermission from another night on the street. By 1985, Hospitality House had developed into the multiple-program agency it is today. The agency has shifted its demographic focus to meet changing needs of the community, transitioning from youth in the Tenderloin to now serving predominantly adult residents of San Francisco’s Tenderloin, Sixth Street Corridor, and Mid-Market neighborhoods struggling with homelessness, poverty, and the range of other socioeconomic issues facing residents here.
Our Mission
To build community strength by advocating for policies and rendering services which foster self-sufficiency and cultural enrichment. Hospitality House encourages self-help, mutual respect, and increased self-esteem. The goal of these efforts is to make the heart of San Francisco a better place for us all.
Our Theory of Change
Developed through a six-month process involving a variety of stakeholders, including our program participants, neighborhood residents, community members, Hospitality House staff and board of directors, our exciting one-page Theory of Change states the problem being addresses as: "Relentless economic inequality in SF robs people of the opportunity to live a life of dignity and self-determination and threatens our shared humanity." Read our organizational strategies towards anticipated changes here.
As we work to continue to operationalize our Theory of Change, Hospitality House is counting on partners, donors, and allies to join with us in support of these ambitious goals. Our work together has never been more critical. We must take bold action during this time of dramatic and lasting change in San Francisco to assure that our vibrant low-income communities are not swallowed up in the process.
Developed through a six-month process involving a variety of stakeholders, including our program participants, neighborhood residents, community members, Hospitality House staff and board of directors, our exciting one-page Theory of Change states the problem being addresses as: "Relentless economic inequality in SF robs people of the opportunity to live a life of dignity and self-determination and threatens our shared humanity." Read our organizational strategies towards anticipated changes here.
As we work to continue to operationalize our Theory of Change, Hospitality House is counting on partners, donors, and allies to join with us in support of these ambitious goals. Our work together has never been more critical. We must take bold action during this time of dramatic and lasting change in San Francisco to assure that our vibrant low-income communities are not swallowed up in the process.
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The Power Of The People Fighting To Preserve
The Soul Of The City
The Soul Of The City
It’s about living; not just surviving.
Our six diverse programs provide community-based solutions that foster self-sufficiency, increase self-esteem and promote self-expression.
Community Arts Program
Shelter Program
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Community Building Program
Sixth Street Self-Help Center
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Employment Program
Tenderloin Self-Help Center
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MEET OUR EVERYDAY HEROES
Hospitality House Happenings
HOW WE HEAL: Latest CAP Exhibit Sept. 20 - Oct 16
How We Heal is not just an art exhibit, but it is a celebration of both Caroline Poyaoan and Anna Marie Morrow’s individual journeys through their art practice to a place of recovery. It is an opportunity for their community of family and friends and the wider community of Tenderloin Community Members to come together to share their joy & growth. Our gallery is located at 1009 Market Street (at 6th Street). See CAP's hours of operation here. |
Career Job Fair - October 24th
Hospitality House's Employment Program in collaboration with the Vietnamese Youth Development Center are hosting a Career Fair on Thursday, October 24th from 11 AM to 1 PM at our 290 Turk Street Location (pictured above). Business participating: Allied Universal, Goodwill, Mental Health Association, Spectra 360, SYSCO, UPS, ZeroCater For more information, please contact: Jalik Davis at (415)369-3050 or jdavis@hospitalityhouse.org Kasey Hua at (415)771-2600 or kasey@vydc.org |
Hospitality House is on the list!
We are excited and honored to announce that Hospitality House has been included in the 2019 YBCA list of 100 people and organizations using their creative and collective power to make change! The list includes celebrities like comedian Ali Wong, founder of LINES Ballet Alonzo King, AXIS Dance Company, composer Marcus Shelby, rap artist Ruby Ibarra and more! See all the people doing incredible work being honored this year by the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts here. 
Building Opportunity For All
Watch our Hospitality House Executive Director Joe Wilson, along with Michael Austin of Seattle Planning Commission, Kung Feng of Jobs With Justice San Francisco, and Margot Kushel of University of California, San Francisco took the stage to discuss how to better harness tech for equitable growth while dealing with the affordability crisis in San Francisco during the "Building Opportunity For All" forum present by The Atlantic. View the video here. |
