Starving hackers

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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 the (now defunct) San Francisco Homeless Resource wiki.

General Resources[edit]

  • Also see Community resources page from 2023
  • 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
  • Berkeley Free Clinic
  • 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. These charts have been slower to update since the pandemic!
  • 211 - Call 211 for food, health care, shelter referrals, resources and info
  • SF HOT - SF Homeless Outreach Team, connects people with resources. (415) 401-2660, (415) 554-8471
  • Project Homeless Connect - list of local resources

Address / Mail[edit]

  • Noisebridge is not a reliable place to use as your address or send your mail.
  • Need a free mailbox or address? Try General Delivery. You can pick up mail and packages at 391 Ellis St. You can address things to as: YOUR NAME, GENERAL DELIVERY, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94142 or YOUR NAME, 391 Ellis St, General Delivery, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94142.
  • Rent a PO BOX or a Private Mailbox (these grant you a street address and ability to receive packages from other couriers).

Food[edit]

  • 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.
  • Mission Food Hub - Free groceries Wednesday and Friday, starting 11AM at 701 Alabama Street
  • 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[edit]

  • If you need a safe place to sleep The Gubbio Project is 3 blocks away from Noisebridge. As of Jan 2023 it's open every weekday 7AM-2PM, at St John The Evangelist, 1661 15th Street (entrance on Julian St.). No reservations or intake process.
  • Temporary shelter resources from the city for adults, families, and youth. Often extra shelter available during winter and weather events. Feb 2023: There's a walk-up shelter at 1050 South Van Ness Avenue.
  • Taimon Booton Navigation Center for women, trans, gender non-conforming, and intersex people.
  • Hostels (some will let you do work trade), co-ops (some rent cheap bunks or sublets). Also try Facebook groups focused on lower cost rooms.
  • 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 on craigslist.
  • Free shelter chart (PDF)
  • Get involved with Homes Not Jails (2023 - does not appear very active, they maintain a list of abandoned property).
  • Some people camp in Golden Gate Park or SF's forested areas.

Showers / Personal Care[edit]

Storage[edit]

  • Storing personal stuff on member shelves or in lockers is not excellent. Member shelves are for projects, material for hacking, and so on. They are not for general possessions.
  • Providence Foundation's Homeless Storage Facility - 74 6th Street provides free storage service for shoes and clothing.
  • 680 Bryant St. Call the facility first to understand what they can store. Their phone number is 415-487-3300, ext. 4429.
  • If your stuff was taken by the city it's probably at the DPW yard, 2323 Cesar Chavez St. Details here on how to reclaim.

Employment, Job Skills, Self-improvement[edit]

Transportation[edit]

  • 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
  • Free and discount transit passes

Computers / Wifi[edit]

Medical Care[edit]