SF CARES is a collaboration of St. Paulus, Santa Maria y Martha, St. Francis and Grace Lutheran Churches, The San Francisco Night Ministry and Welcome; all faithful organizations who are working together in order to increase our ability to help the underserved in San Francisco. We are particularly passionate about providing opportunities, resources and support for individuals who are poor, homeless, formerly homeless and experiencing mental health or brain disorder issues. Among other things, our collaborators grow and distribute fresh produce, feed communal meals to hundreds each month in a variety of venues, advocate for those we serve, accompany and provide pastoral care for thousands of people each year, and dream together of what more we can do next.

CARES stands for Compassion, Advocacy, Resilience and Education Services.

Our History:

SF CARES was founded in 1986 under the name People Place Service Incorporated (PPSI) in order to provide shelter for transgender women. With an Memorandum Of Understanding partnering with the City and County of San Francisco, PPSI’s shelter was in operation until 1995. The shelter closed when the building next door, St. Paulus Lutheran’s sanctuary, burned down and the space used by the shelter was needed for the congregations worship services. In 1987, PPSI created the Hospitality Hour, a four course meal for HIV+ individuals. The Hospitality Hour continues to serve this meal every Tuesday.

In 2012, PPSI changed its name to SF CARES. In November of 2013, SF CARES began the Homeless Vision Project (a collaboration with Project Homeless Connect) to provide free prescription glasses at events throughout San Francisco. To date, the project has provided over 300 eye exams and prescription glasses in the Polk Gultch, Mission, Castro, Western Addition, and Sunset districts. Additional events are scheduled in the Bayview, Chinatown, Tenderloin and Merced Heights.

St. Paulus Lutheran was founded in 1894, Grace Lutheran in 1949, The Night Ministry in 1964 and Welcome in 1996.