San Francisco Travel Partners with Downtown Streets Team To Keep Convention Center Neighborhood Looking Good

San Francisco Travel Partners with Downtown Streets Team to Keep Convention Center Neighborhood Looking Good While Preventing Homelessness

April 12, 2019 – The San Francisco Travel Association has begun a one-year pilot partnership with Downtown Streets Team to help keep the neighborhood around the Moscone Center clean for the millions of people attending events at and around the convention center.

Founded in 2005, Downtown Streets Team works to end homelessness by restoring the dignity and rebuilding the lives of unhoused men and women. Team members engage in beautifications projects such as street cleaning and creek restoration. All team members are volunteers who are experiencing homelessness or at-risk of becoming homeless.

Team Members are held accountable and trusted to complete tasks, show up on time, and work well with others. Those who show dedication and leadership skills have the ability to rise up to become team leads, then managers, and supervise others with little or no supervision from staff. In return, Team Members receive a non-cash stipend to help cover their basic needs, while taking advantage of case management and employment services to find housing and a job. Downtown Streets Teams’ ultimate goal is to transition Team Members into lives of stability. The model is structured to be a one-year transitional program into permanent housing and employment.

Downtown Streets Team has secured more than 1,600 homes and jobs for people in San Francisco and throughout the Bay Area. Its goal is to end homelessness in our lifetime, one community at a time.

“We see partnering with Downtown Streets is a win/win,” said Joe D’Alessandro, San Francisco Travel president and CEO.  “Naturally, we want visitors to have a positive experience as they come and go to our convention center.  But we also want to help those who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless.  Downtown Streets lets us accomplish both objectives.”

The two four-member Downtown Streets teams will be easily visible in their yellow shirts as they tend to the sidewalks and public areas from Market to Folsom streets and Third to Fifth streets, eight hours per day, five days per week.  In exchange for their work, team members receive stipends to be used for basic needs such as food and housing.

The service is in addition to those provided by the Yerba Buena Community Benefit District – who will coordinate the teams – and the San Francisco Department of Public Works.

The San Francisco Travel Association is the official destination marketing organization for the City and County of San Francisco. For information on reservations, activities and more, visit www.sftravel.com or call 415-391-2000.

San Francisco Travel’s main Visitor Information Center is now located at 749 Howard St., adjacent to the Moscone Convention Center.   San Francisco Travel also operates Visitor Information Centers at Macy’s Union Square and in Chinatown at 625 Kearny St.  San Francisco Travel is also a partner at the California Welcome Center at PIER 39.

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American Express® is the official Card partner of the San Francisco Travel Association.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers non-stop flights to more than 50 international cities on 44 international carriers. The Bay Area’s largest airport connects non-stop with 85 cities in the U.S. on 12 domestic airlines. SFO offers upgraded free Wi-Fi with no advertising. For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps and details on shopping, dining, cultural exhibitions, ground transportation and more, visit www.flysfo.com. Follow SFO on www.twitter.com/flysfo and www.facebook.com/flysfo.

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