Continuing Our Work During COVID-19

So much has changed over the past month. We've seen beauty in the solidarity of staying home and staying safe, and we are so grateful that as a state our numbers have remained at a manageable level for our healthcare system and for the safety of all of us. Yet for some of us, staying safe from COVID-19 has resulted in lost jobs and lost wages and a great deal of hardship. 

As a service provider to over 3,500 low-income Asian individuals, some of whom are undocumented immigrants who can receive no unemployment aid, we have been working to quickly find ways to support these individuals. 

• Through the support of the Asian Pacific Fund, we are providing Safeway eGift cards to our clients who are in need of food. 

• Also through the support of United Way Bay Area, we have set up an emergency rental fund to directly pay rent for clients who are unable to pay due to lost wages and who are at risk of homelessness. 

• We have kept our Chinatown office location open and staffed 24/7 so we can address the urgent needs of clients. 

• We have provided free masks for all residents and staff. 

• We have implemented a new cleaning protocol that includes soap, hand sanitizer and paper towels in all common areas and increased the frequency of cleaning and sanitizing.

• We have transitioned our parent support and child development programs to online programs held over Zoom. 

• We have transitioned our after school program to a virtual one where our teachers continue to support our students with their homework needs via video calls. 

• We continue to support the acute mental health needs of our transitional housing residents who are healing from domestic violence, sexual assault or human trafficking by providing one-to-one therapy and case management over the phone. 

• We have transitioned our weekend Children's Art Classes to Zoom.  

• We hired wellness instructors to offer online self care and movement workshops for our residents as they shelter in place.

• We are providing 5 hot meals per week to our residents who are most vulnerable due to age or health, funded by the SF New Deal through Asian Pacific Fund. 

As you might imagine, the funding we do have is limited. 

We are actively seeking funding for the following needs: 

• Emergency rental assistance (funds will be paid directly to landlords)

• Food assistance (we will purchase and distribute Safeway gift cards)

• Utility assistance (funds paid directly to utility companies)

• Diapers (we will purchase and distribute)

We greatly appreciate your support if you are able to provide it during challenging time. Thank you so much for all you do for the most vulnerable among us.

Sincerely,
Gloria Tan
Executive Director

The children participating in our virtual classes show off their artwork