Starving hackers

Supporting starving hackers is part of our value of inclusivity. It is probably not hyperbolic to state that San Francisco has a housing crisis. Despite a general sympathy and frustration with the shortcomings of capitalism, unfortunately Noisebridge simply does not have the resources to address all these issues - either to function an adequate homeless resource center, nor remain a conducive environment for others to hack while doubling as a shelter. We want you to come to Noisebridge, but we also want you to have a place to call your own, and to be able to get to and from there safely.

The nature of creative work means it doesn't always pan out financially, so every now and then any of us could have a cash flow problem. Many of the following items are linked to from San Francisco Homeless Resource, which is a fantastic resource for anyone who finds themselves in a tough situation in our great city.

General Resources

• https://www.projecthomelessconnect.org/get-help/ Project Homeless Connect]
• The SF Help Charts offer a variety of guides to local social services including hot meals, pantries, shelter, medical care, mental health care, and neighborhood assistance
• GlideSF offers a variety of programs and services including emergency shelter placement, women's services, health services, a hot meals program, and bagged groceries programs
• http://www.berkeleyfreeclinic.org/resources/
• 211 - Call 211 for food, health care, shelter referrals, resources and info
• [1] - SF Homeless Outreach Team, connects people with resources. (415) 401-2660, (415) 554-8471

Food

• Volunteer at SF Food Not Bombs, the Wednesday group serves at 16th and Mission, cooks nearby at Saint John the Evangelist (15th & Julian).
• The SF Food Bank offers a variety of ways to get free or reduced cost food.
• Martín de Porres House - 225 Potrero Ave. They serve lunch from 12 to 2 pm Mon-Sat. Meals often include a soup, are generally vegetarian and often vegan. Burrito Project is also run out of this space. Catholic worker collective, really kind people, their building has a nice garden!
• GlideSF provides a daily free meals program with three service times, and unlimited repeat trips through the line until tickets run out. Recommend you get in line early for a quick trip through.
  • Breakfast: 8am - 9am
    
  • Lunch: Noon - 1:00pm
    
  • Dinner: 4pm - 5:00pm Monday - Friday, bagged lunch served Noon - 1:00pm Saturday & Sunday
• St Anthony's Dining Room - 121 Golden Gate. Breakfast and lunch served.
• Free Farm Stand - Community run program including fruit and veggies from backyard gardens. Sundays Noon-1pm, 23rd and Treat St.
• The Free Print Shop's free eats list Free Eats chart - May be slightly out of date since Covid.
• Apply for SNAP / CalFresh / Food Stamps
• Market Match - If you receive SNAP, WIC, other food benefits you can get extra money when you buy at local farmers markets. Civic Center/UN Plaza market is the most generous! Show up at the end of the day to get some serious deals ($1-2 bags of produce, etc)
• If you are a City College of SF student (free for SF residents) you can get grocery cards and free food.

Shelters, Housing, Camping, Sleep

• If you need a safe place to sleep try The Gubbio Project. It's open every weekday 6AM-3PM, 133 Golden Gate. No reservation needed.
• Sleeping at Noisebridge is not excellent
• Neither is trolling those who are not bothering you. Offer kind, constructive suggestions and understanding. It could be you in this position.
• Get involved with Homes Not Jails
• Free shelter chart (PDF)
• Reserve a bed at a shelter
• GlideSF
• Tenderloin Housing Clinic
• Hostels (some will let you do work trade), co-ops (some rent cheap bunks or sublets)
• Larkin Street Youth Center provides emergency shelter placement and a variety of other services to at-risk or homeless youth under 19
• Couchsurfing
• Find some roommates or an apartment
• Camp in Golden Gate Park or one of SF's forested areas

Showers

• Lava Mae http://lavamae.org/ san francisco schedule & locations
• mondays: 8:30am-2pm, St. Anthony's, Golden Gate & Jones St.
• tuesdays: 8:30am-2pm, SF Main Public Library in Civic Center, Fulton St. at Hyde St., 2:30pm - 8pm, First Friendship (FAMILIES ONLY), Oak St. & Steiner St.
• wednesdays: 3:00pm- 7:00pm, Most Holy Redeemer Church, San Francisco, 100 Diamond St
• thursdays: 2:00pm- 6:00pm, St. Anthony's Winter Shelter, Golden Gate & Jones St.
• fridays: 8:30am-2pm, GLIDE in the Tenderloin, Taylor St. & Ellis St.
• saturdays: 7:00am- 1:00pm, Mission Neighborhood Resource Center, 16th & Capp

Additional Resources

• Martin de Porres
• Mission Neighborhood Resource Center
• Get a gym trial or join the Y the Y. Many 24 Hour Fitness branches are, as their name implies, open 24 hours.
• If you're a student your school may have shower facilities.

Storage

• Storing stuff on member shelves is not excellent. Member shelves are for projects, material for hacking, and so on. They are not for general posessions.
• Homeless Storage: 350 Jones Street at Ellis: "Limited storage is available for any person who is homeless. Clothes and shoes only may be stored for up to six months. There is a maximum amount of storage space available to each person. Persons can request storage and access to stored items once a day during business hours: Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Call (415) 921-1978 for any additional information."
• City Storage, 150 Otis St. (between Gough and Duboce), 415-557-6339, Hours: 9am-3:30pm

Employment, Job Skills, Self-improvement

• San Francisco Personal Assisted Employment Services (PAES)
• Noisebridge Jobs mailing list
• SF CAAP General Assistance
• Classes at City College of San Francisco (Free for most low-income SF/CA residents)
• Free classes at Noisebridge!
• Need ID? How to get your: Birth Certificate, SF City ID, State ID/Drivers License, Passport and Social Security Card

Transportation

• The Bike Kitchen is close enough that you can walk to it, and by volunteering your time you can earn enough credit to build your own bike from their spare parts. Some Noisebridge members have bikes from the bike kitchen and although they took some elbow grease, they work great.
• The Bay Bridge bike bridge is a cheap way to get across the Bay Bridge. It only runs during commute hours, but it's $1 cash each way (exact change only), much less than any other option.
• 511's online TripPlanner shows public transit options around the Bay

Computers / Wifi

• Noisebridge wireless access is excellent
• San Francisco Public Library, Mission Branch is nearby and has computers available to use.
  • other branches, housing projects and some other city facilities (map)
• St Anthony's Computer Lab
• Monkeybrains.net free wifi hotspots (corner of 19th and Valencia, Dolores Park, numerous other locations)
• McDonalds, Starbucks, Safeway, Union Square, the Metreon

Medical Care

• Healthy San Francisco - Free & sliding-scale medical care for uninsured San Francisco residents
• Mental health resources
• SF General Hospital - Nearby hospital; ER, urgent care and other services
• VetSOS and SFSPCA Hospital - Free and sliding scale veterinary care for companion animals.