Delancey Street Foundation

About Delancey Street Foundation

In San Francisco, California, people who are homeless, dealing with addictions, or were incarcerated can get support through the long-term residential program at Delancey Street Foundation. This self-help program is for people who have dropped out of school, been in and out of jail, involved in gangs or trapped in poverty. This program is completely free for participants and the organization doesn’t get grants or funding. It is able to run because the members pool their resources and have a fully volunteer staff.

Residents in the facility will work as a group to take care of one another. Whenever someone applies to be part of Delancey Street, established residents will conduct an interview to see if they would be a good fit. I like that this program is so different from the common 28 or 90 days programs out there. Here, the minimum stay is two years, and most people stay four years.

The rules are very basic. Drugs, alcohol, violence and threats are not tolerated. That’s it. During your stay you’ll be responsible for tutoring others who have less education than you do. For example, residents who finished grade 10 will tutor residents at the primary grade levels. Everyone works together to get their high school equivalency certificate. If you choose, you can also work towards a college degree.

By the end of your time at Delancey Street, you’ll have 1-3 marketable skills that can provide you with a new life that is free of drugs and crime. You’ll also learn social skills, work ethic and basic personal hygiene.

Each resident will be part of the facility’s vocational training school. You’ll begin by doing basic jobs and gain skills to move up. There are various options like working in the kitchen. You’d go from dishwasher to prep cook and finally to managing chef.