TNDC’s Community Organizing Department works hard to mobilize Tenderloin residents around issues that affect the neighborhood. Last November, it helped to rally nearly 550 first-time voters in a series of neighborhood Get Out the Vote campaigns, according to data collected by the Department of Elections. As it approaches its third year, TNDC’s Community Organizing Department continues to grow and develop to meet the needs of a changing community.

“We want to be responsive to all of our stakeholders – donors, the City, our staff… but Tenderloin residents most of all,” said Don Falk, Executive Director of TNDC. In an effort to identify which issues are most important to Tenderloin residents, a Tenant Summit was held on May 14th to get direct feedback from residents about where TNDC’s organizing efforts are most needed. This feedback will guide the Community Organizing Department’s focus in the next phase of its efforts.

“To start, we surveyed the community to determine which three issues most affect the neighborhood and most need to be focused on,” said Steve Woo, TNDC’s Community Organizer. The survey results showed that residents are most concerned about the limited availability of affordable housing, community safety, and the scarcity of healthy, affordable food in the area.

“We then took these results and held a Tenant Summit to give our residents a chance to give us feedback in more detail,” Steve explained. “We asked them: ‘What actions would you like to see around this issue?’ And ‘What would it take you to get involved?’” Three breakout groups offered a chance for intense discussion and brainstorming about how each issue should be approached.

More than seventy people participated. “We knocked on hundreds of doors to outreach,” Steve said. “Not just employees… dozens of tenant volunteers helped get their neighbors involved. They understood the meaning of the summit and the importance of grassroots involvement in making positive change.”

Food Justice

Discussions on the lack of affordable, healthy food choices in the Tenderloin neighborhood revealed that our residents desire information about nutrition and about economical cooking. “Community Organizing staff are hoping to start a peer education program to facilitate more cooking in our Single Resident Occupancy units, or units that share a common kitchen area,” said Steve. Concerns were also raised about the lack of a grocery store and healthy food options in a neighborhood with mostly liquor and convenience stores.

“We wouldn’t be working so hard to bring a grocery to the neighborhood if we hadn’t heard feedback from residents that one is desperately needed,” said Don.

Affordable Housing Advocacy

Tenants also expressed concern about the lack of affordable housing in San Francisco. “While many knew housing is getting more and more expensive, we realized most residents don’t understand the full context in which housing prices are rising,” said Steve. “It is a symptom of a broken system that makes it difficult for people of color and people with disabilities to overcome poverty.”

The Community Organizing Department intends to generate support among tenants in actions that involve advocating for funding and support for affordable housing. “We want to show residents alternative, effective methods to help address the root cause of the housing crisis.”

Grassroots Community Safety

The final breakout discussion group, facilitated by Dina Hilliard, a TNDC Board Member, focused on grassroots community safety, or safety that is generated by the community for the community. Word was spread about the neighborhood’s Safe Haven Campaign, in which safety areas are set up by local businesses and organizations for people who feel unsafe on the streets.

“What struck me most was no matter how differing the opinions about safety were, each tenant agreed that feeling safe is a right, not a privilege, and any improvement to safety conditions in the neighborhood will require a community-based effort,” said Dina.

“Sustainable, lasting change can only be birthed in the community. City workers, law enforcement, and service providers may come and go, but the community will remain to implement and sustain lasting change by working together.”