Dolores Shelter Program | Richard M. Cohen Residence | Casa Quezada | Stay Over Program | Casa Colibri | Casa Esperanza 

Our programs offer safe, affirming, and dignified housing to communities facing housing insecurity in San Francisco. We practice a trauma-informed and harm reduction model, aiming to build individual and community empowerment and prevent long-term homelessness.  

Dolores Shelter Program 

In 1982, San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein asked San Francisco Churches to open their doors to refugees fleeing war and famine in Central America. Dolores Street Baptist Church, at that time located on the corner of 15th and Dolores Streets, was the first to answer the call and founded a “church basement” operation providing basic services of shelter and meals (the Dolores Housing Program, now the Dolores Shelter Program).

Over the next 10 years, this program continued to serve as the primary provider of shelter to San Francisco’s Latino homeless working poor. In 1993, when the church was destroyed in a fire, both the church and the shelter were moved to new facilities, but continued to provide shelter and services to the Latino community of the Mission District.

The Dolores Shelter Program (DSP), located at 1050 South Van Ness Avenue, is an emergency shelter program that offers overnight shelter, hot meals, and support services to adults experiencing homelessness. Case management services are offered onsite to support guests with finding additional support and resources related to housing, benefits, and physical and mental health. The program has proudly served the Latinx and immigrant community since its onset in 1982, offering bilingual and culturally competent services to all guests.  

The program also houses Jazzie’s Place, a unique shelter model dedicated to serving the LGBTQ community. This program recognizes that LGBTQ people disproportionately face discrimination and other obstacles throughout the housing process. Therefore, Jazzie’s Place is deeply committed to providing a safe and affirming experience to guests regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. It is a space where LGBTQ people are celebrated.

Dolores Shelter Program is open daily from 6pm to 8am. DSP accepts walk-up guests on a first-come, first-served basis. Shelter doors open at 6pm and guests can begin lining up no sooner than 5:30pm.  

For additional support with housing navigation, visit our Access Point page.  

Richard M. Cohen Residence 

In 1995, with the support of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, Mission Action renovated an old Victorian cottage on Dolores Street and opened the doors to Hope House, a place for homeless men and women living with AIDS to spend their last days in dignity and peace. Hope House was later renamed the Richard M. Cohen Residence in honor of a local realtor and community member who died of AIDS, and whose estate provided a significant portion of the funds for the renovation.

The Richard M. Cohen Residence is a transitional residential care facility for adults living with HIV/AIDS and a history of homelessness. Located on Dolores Street within a historic Victorian home, the program has 10 rooms, shared bathrooms, a kitchen, a shared common space, and a beautiful outdoor garden. Since its inception, the program has always been an LGBTQ affirming space, though it is open to people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Residents typically stay for a period of up to two years, working closely with the program’s Social Worker to identify and achieve their long-term housing goals.  

Using a health promoter model, program staff provide education and support to ensure that residents maintain stability in terms of their health and wellbeing. Generally, residents manage medical appointments and medications on their own, and staff can provide care coordination or health promotion support as needed. The program also encourages its residents to build life skills that will facilitate their transition to independent living by offering workshops on diverse topics such as cooking, financial management, and managing your benefits. This approach empowers residents on their journey to independence and self-sufficiency.  

To inquire about availability at the Cohen Residence or to apply, please contact the Senior Manager at (415) 558-0504.  

Casa Quezada 

Casa Quezada opened its doors in 2011. It is named in honor of Eric Quezada, Mission Action’s former Executive Director who passed away from cancer in 2011.

Casa Quezada is a supportive housing program and SRO (single room occupancy hotel) located on Woodward Street. The building has 52 units, shared bathrooms, tenant kitchens, and a shared community space. The program serves low-income adults with a history of homelessness, particularly monolingual Spanish-speakers and pre-documented immigrants who have limited access to other subsidized housing options. Staff provide bilingual, culturally competent services and ensure that language accessibility is prioritized for all communications.  

In partnership with Mission Neighborhood Resource Center (MNRC), the program provides on-site clinical and case management services available to all tenants. Residents are often referred to other MNRC programs for medical care, mental health support, and other services needed. The program also offers daily meals, social activities, and monthly events that aim to bring people together and foster community.  

Tenants must be referred to the program through San Francisco’s Coordinated Entry System. For more information about applying, visit our Access Point page.  

Stay Over Program 

The Stay Over Program is a family shelter program located at the Buena Vista Horace Mann Community School (BVHM). The Stay Over Program is a partnership with the San Francisco Unified School District and the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing.

The Stay Over Program is for San Francisco Unified School District students and their families who are experiencing homelessness and are attending San Francisco K-12 public schools (not including charter or private schools).

The program serves families who have at least one student in the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and is open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 24 hours Saturday, Sunday, and SFUSD Holidays. To inquire about availability or to make a reservation, please contact: (628)215-2080 (Office Line 9 am-5 pm) or (415) 879-4316 (Shelter Line 7 pm-7 am).

Casa Colibri 

Casa Colibri opened its doors the summer of 2022. Casa Colibri is a supportive housing program serving transition age youth, ages 18-24. Located in the Outer Mission, the program aims to provide housing, community, and opportunity for young people who have experienced homelessness.  

In partnership with Larkin Street Youth Services, the program provides on-site clinical and case management services available to all residents. The program also offers support and referrals related to financial management, health and mental health, employment, and social activities.  

Residents must be referred to the program through San Francisco’s Coordinated Entry System. For more information about applying, visit one of the Youth Access Points.  

Casa Esperanza 

Casa Esperanza opened its doors the summer of 2022. Casa Esperanza is a supportive housing program serving transition age youth, ages 18-24. Located in the Mission District, the program aims to provide housing, community, and opportunity for young people who have experienced homelessness. The program prioritizes people who identify as Latinx, indigenous, monolingual, and immigrants, including those who are in the process of adjusting their immigration status. Staff provide bilingual and culturally competent services to support the diversity of our residents.  

In partnership with Larkin Street Youth Services, the program provides on-site clinical and case management services available to all residents. The program also offers support and referrals related to financial management, health and mental health, job training, and social activities.  

Residents must be referred to the program through San Francisco’s Coordinated Entry System. For more information about applying, visit one of the Youth Access Points.