You make this incredible program possible!


Help us spread the word.

Please share this newsletter with your friends, neighbors and colleagues and encourage them to make a donation to Castro Cares. Donations primarily fund additional uniformed officers on foot patrol.

Castro Cares: A Unique Model 
As the lead agency for Castro Cares, the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District gets calls from neighborhoods throughout the city, wanting to learn about Castro Cares. I tell people first and foremost you need a diverse and inclusive leadership committee. Castro Cares is different from other efforts because we are guided by a true cross-section of the Castro/Upper Market community.

The leadership committee is composed of:
- Wednesday Suppers at Most  Holy Redeemer
- Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church
- St. Francis Lutheran Church
- Castro Merchants 
- Castro Community On Patrol 
- Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District 
- Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association
- Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association
- Hartford St. Neighbors
- SFPD Mission Station
- SF HOT

The diversity of opinion on the leadership team is critical and it reflects the diversity of opinion in the community. There is certainly tension on what services to emphasize, what programs to support and which strategies to implement. This tension is healthy and ultimately leads to a program which reflects this tension and reflects the values of the community - Compassionate Care and Enforcement of laws.

Castro Cares is not static. We are flexible and try out different strategies. If one doesn't work as well as hoped, we try another. We are able to switch around hours of police patrols and experiment with where the patrols focus.  The Homeless Outreach services are flexible and are directed daily to hot spots.

Castro Cares is funded through donations from residents, merchants and city grants. The Castro/Upper Market community cares - that's why Castro Cares works!

All the donors to Castro Cares should be proud of your support. This work is slow, it is improving the life of one person at a time or getting one shop lifter at a time off the block, but we are getting recognized across the city and we are making a difference.

Thank You for Your Support!


CASTRO CARES SOCK DRIVE!
Looking for some way to help? DONATE NEW WARM SOCKS! The Castro Cares homeless outreach team uses socks and care packages as a way to engage those who are at risk and living on the street. New socks are a jumping off point for the Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) - it is a way for the Castro Cares HOT to gain trust and build a relationship. Help them do their job plus, warm, dry feet are critical to the health of people living on the street. The sock drive ran in full force the month of February. We've collected several hundred pair of new socks. Thank You!

Read about our Sock Drive coordinated by volunteers John and Antony in a recent Examiner issue.

In March please drop off new, warm socks to the Castro CBD's office at 549A Castro St. or at Philz Coffee 549 Castro St.
Public Safety Services
In 2016, the Castro Cares funded uniformed officers issued 2,038 warnings or citations. Obstructing the sidewalk and violations of no trespassing signs were by far the largest number of warnings/incidents reported. Detailed data on the Castro Cares foot patrols can be found on the website.

Castro Cares funded Patrol Special Police are in the neighborhood day in and day out. They know who is here looking to make trouble v.s. those that are looking for a hand-up. The Patrol Special Police are on the SFPD radio and can radio for back up at a moments notice. 

Castro Cares funded officers make a difference in the community. It makes a difference to have uniformed officers walking a foot patrol. They deter crime, and are close by when needed.