Donate to SRO Families Fund and Change Lives

We are reaching out to you today on behalf of fourteen (14) low-income families living in SROs in San Francisco Chinatown who share similar stories. They are all low-income with children and live in single rooms of no more than 100-square-foot with shared bathrooms and kitchens.

Take one of these families as an example - the Yu family. Han Li of the San Francisco Standard featured them in his report on February 16. This family has been struggling with poverty while raising their four children, ages 16, 15, and twins of 8-years-old for almost a decade. Their unhealthy and cramped living conditions frustrated Mrs. Yu. She burst into tears when she talked about the size of her home, feeling hopeless that she was not able to provide a decent living and studying environment for her children. A SRO should not be a place for families to live in and is not a place for kids to grow up. Read Li's news article and watch the video about this family.

Chinatown CDC has been helping these families apply for rental assistance to move them out of SROs. After many years of advocacy and waiting, these applications were finally approved recently.

These families will move out of SROs to proper housing in the next two months. While these families are excited about the opportunity, they are now facing the daunting reality of coming up with the money to move. These families are on a fixed income. They don't have the savings to pay for the extra expenses.

This is where we come in.

To support these 14 families, Chinatown CDC has started the "SRO Families Fund" campaign to help them pay for the unmet moving expenses. Your help can significantly impact the lives of these families. In times of need, a lending hand is a message of hope from the community, that we care and we’re here to make sure that things will be better tomorrow. A safe and stable home is a part of the solution to the physical and mental well-being of all individuals and children.

Essential items most needed:

Beds

Bunk beds

Bedding supplies

Desks

Dining table

Chairs

Dressers

Sofa/Couch

Minor kitchen appliances & utensils

Drapes

Let's show these families that they are not alone in this journey and give them the support they need to start their new lives with dignity and hope. If you are in a position to contribute and you have the means to take action, we hope you will donate today. No dollar amount is too small.

Thank you for your compassion and support.

We are so grateful to Han Li of San Francisco Standard for his touching, in-depth coverage of the Yu family's story. And for all of you for your generosity and kindness.

#SROFamiliesFund

About CCDC

Chinatown Community Development Center’s mission is to build community and enhance the quality of life for San Francisco residents. Chinatown CDC is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with tax ID 94-2514053.

About SRO Families United Collaborative

Chinatown CDC is a vital partner of the Collaborative who strives to defend the rights of families living in Single Room Occupancy (SRO) hotels, improve conditions in their buildings, ensure access to services, and seek decent, affordable housing.