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A number of individuals around a table wearing Golden State Warriors jerseys in front of a banner that says 'United Way Bay Area Live United' in what appears to be a basketball arena. A number of individuals around a table wearing Golden State Warriors jerseys in front of a banner that says 'United Way Bay Area Live United' in what appears to be a basketball arena.

San Francisco County

Building a Thriving San Francisco

Supporting Equitable Access and Opportunity

 

Welcome to our page dedicated to San Francisco County, a dynamic and diverse community where innovation meets social responsibility. As the heart of the Bay Area, San Francisco County is a hub of cultural, economic, and technological advancement. However, an urgent need to address disparities and ensure equitable access to opportunities for all residents persists.

 

We are committed to promoting equity and social justice in San Francisco County. Through this page, we aim to provide you with valuable data and insights that shed light on the specific challenges faced by our San Francisco community and the initiatives we undertake to create positive change. From affordable housing and homelessness prevention to education and workforce development, we work collaboratively to support individuals and families to strengthen the fabric of the city.

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We Are Stronger Together.

 

When hard times hit, Jesse—like many in the Bay Area—struggled to find well-paying work. Soon he and his family couldn’t afford rent on their place in Hayward. They were staying in a homeless shelter when Jesse visited his local family resource center and saw a flyer for SparkPoint.

 

A cornerstone of United Way Bay Area’s poverty-fighting efforts, SparkPoint offers low-income individuals and families free one-on-one financial and career coaching and education to help them build brighter futures for themselves and their families.

 

Working with his financial coach, Jesse began taking steps to get his finances in order and rebuild his credit.

 

“I thought credit was just for rich people, wasn’t for people like us, people from the hood.”

 

Jesse’s finances began to improve but he still struggled to find work until his coach told him: “If you can’t find work, just make your own job.” Jesse took those words to heart and soon started his own catering business, Tita’s Tacos, named after his wife with whom he runs the business.

 

“Just having that financial coach really helped.”

95,890 individuals are food insecure

119,291 households are housing cost burdened

$127,332 Real cost measure for a family of 4

The Need in San Francisco County

Living in San Francsico is expensive

A typical family of four would need $127,332 to meet basic needs in San Francisco. The median income for SF residents is $119,136.

Income inequality in San Francisco is growing

The top 5% make an average of $800,000, compared with $16,000 for the lowest 20%.

Residents are having a hard time making rent

More than 17,250 households are behind on rent with average of $8,400 rent debt per household (total $145 million).

Our Impact in the Community

 

 

A female presenting individual in a bright yellow shirt branded with the United Way logo appearing to help an individual with their taxes.

Free Tax Help

(Free tax preparation for anyone who needs it)

 

Free Tax Help has helped provide 15.6 million in refunds back into the pockets of San Francisco County residents.

 

Learn More About Our Free Tax Help Program

SparkPoint

(Centers that provide one-stop access to a full range of services to move families towards financial prosperity.)

 

SparkPoint centers in San Francisco County have served 2,756 individuals providing resources for basic needs, employment and career opportunities, and financial coaching.

 

Learn More About Our SparkPoint program

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A female presenting individual with red glasses and a red shirt with a headset on in front of a computer with a 211 Bay Area sign on a wall behind them.

211

(A free, vital service that connects callers with health and human services (food, shelter, childcare, legal services)

 

20,559 referrals to basic needs and community resources were made to 211. Of those referrals, 8,655 were made to housing or shelter related services.

 

Learn more about 211

Explore the Data

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The Real Cost Measure

 

United Ways of California, in partnership with California’s 29 local United Ways, is proud to release How Much it Costs to Struggle: The Real Cost Measure in California 2023, a study on what it takes to make ends meet in California.

 

Unlike the official poverty measure which primarily accounts for the cost of food, the Real Cost Measure factors the costs of housing, food, health care, childcare, transportation and other basic needs to reveal what it really costs to live in California.


Explore our Real Cost Measure dashboard
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211 Bay Area

 

(A free, vital service that connects callers with health and human services (food, shelter, childcare, legal services))

 

2-1-1 phone and text services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are available in 150 languages through phone interpretation services and English and Spanish for text services.


Explore our 211 Dashboard

Unlock the Impact: Discover How United Way Bay Area is Changing Lives in Your Community

 

Get exclusive access to United Way Bay Area’s Regional Community Impact Report. Discover how we served 649,000+ individuals, provided $1.6 million in assistance, and partnered with 259 organizations to support families in need. Opt-in now to see detailed, county-specific impact numbers and be part of the change!

 

Bay Area Impact Analysis By County

 

We have been working to alleviate poverty across our eight‐county region for a century. We invite you to learn more about our work, our relationships.

 

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Alameda County

116,630 individuals are experiencing food insecurity in Alameda County alone.

See Alameda’s Need

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Contra Costa County

27,709 renter-households with low incomes DO NOT have access to an affordable home.

See Contra Costa’s Need

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Marin County

40,404 households in Marin County spend more than 30% of household income on rent.

See Marin County’s Need

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Napa County

Full-time income for workers in low-wage jobs decreased 10% between 2000 and 2019, while high-wage job income increased 13%.

See Napa County’s Need

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San Francisco County

A typical family of four needs $127,332 just to meet basic needs. The median income for SF residents is $119,136.

See San Francisco’s Need

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San Mateo County

33,374 individuals have been served through UWBA programs – that’s nearly twice the seating capacity of the Chase Center.

See San Mateo’s Need

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Santa Clara County

27,400 children are experiencing food insecurity.

See Santa Clara’s Need

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Solano County

54,584 households are housing burdened, spending more than 30% of household income on rent.

See Solano County’s Need

Partner Agencies

 

  • Asian Pacific American Community Center*
  • Asian, Inc.*
  • Bay Area Legal Aid
  • Bayview Hunters Point YMCA*
  • Beta Alpha Psi – Beta Chi Chapter*
  • Board of Trustees of The Glide Foundation
  • Catholic Charities of the East Bay
  • Catholic Charities San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo
  • Central City Hospitality House
  • Chinese Newcomers Service Center*
  • City College San Francisco*
  • Code for America*
  • Community Forward SF
  • Council of Community Housing Organizations*
  • Dolores Street Community Services
  • Enterprise Community Partners*
  • Episcopal Community Services of San Francisco
  • Fraternite Notre Dame
  • Golden State Opportunity*
  • Gum Moon Women’s Residence
  • Huckleberry Youth Programs
  • Human Services Agency of SF
  • Immigrant Legal Resource Center
  • Instituto Laboral De La Raza
  • La Casa de las Madres
  • Lao Family Community Development, Inc.
  • Maitri
  • Meals on Wheels of San Francisco
  • Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA)*
  • Non-Profit Housing Association of Nothern
  • California*
  • Northeast Community FCU*
  • One Treasure Island*
  • Planned Parenthood Northern California
  • Raphael House of San Francisco
  • Safe and Sound
  • Salvation Army Oakland
  • San Francisco City Impact
  • San Francisco Community Empowerment Center*
  • San Francisco Labor Council
  • San Francisco State University*
  • San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
  • St. Anthony Foundation
  • St. Francis Living Room
  • St. Vincent de Paul SF
  • Swords to Plowshares Veterans Rights Organization
  • Tenants Together
  • The Food Pantry
  • The Women’s Building*
  • UC Hastings College of the Law*
  • WE RISE SF
  • Working Partnerships USA

 

* UWBA Grantees

Make a Difference

 

We have been working to alleviate poverty across our eight‐county region for a century. We invite you to learn more about our work, our relationships.

 

Support Our Region

Now that you know the need, support our region and make a difference today!

Give

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Partner With Us On Your CSR Goals

Find out how we can partner to amplify your community support and create a lasting impact together.

Partnerships

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Your Voice Matters

Raise your voice and advocate for policy measures that drive positive change and uplift the needs of our community.

Advocate

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Thank you!

Please check your inbox for the link to access to the impact data eight bay area counties!

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San Francisco County Quiz

About how much do the lowest 20% of working residents in San Francisco Countymake?





How many households are behind on rent?