Dear DISH Friends,

This has been a year of transformation. As national policy moves further from compassion, justice, and equity, DISH is moving intentionally in the opposite direction and expanding our capacity, sharpening our focus, and reaffirming our values. We believe that housing is a human right, and equity, inclusion, and belonging are built into everything we do. As we navigate what’s next, we remain rooted in our belief that true change comes not just from providing homes, but from creating spaces where all people are seen, valued, and supported.

This past year, we embraced a return to a co-leadership model as Rahwa Meharena, former Director of Finance and Administration, joined co-founder Lauren Hall as Co-CEO of DISH. Rahwa’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping our vision for the next phase of the organization. Our collaborative approach aligns with DISH’s values and strengthens our ability to tackle the multifaceted challenges we face.

We’ve been hard at work this past year laying the groundwork for our transition to an independent 501(c)(3) organization. Since 2006, DISH has grown into a trusted leader in permanent supportive housing under the fiscal sponsorship of the Tides Center. It is now time to spread our wings. We look forward to our future growth and our ability to welcome even more San Franciscans home.

While we navigate the erosion of our country’s commitment to serving those most in need, we remain steadfast in our support of our residents and will continue to provide solutions that work with quality permanent supportive housing. We understand that ‘Housing First’ means opening the door wide for those who need us – that is when recovery and healing can begin.

As DISH has proven over the years, well-managed permanent supportive housing works. Residents tell us every day how their lives have changed for the better just by living in one of our residences. We’re thrilled to share a few of their compelling stories of hope, resilience, and recovery with you in this report.

We will always believe that everyone deserves a home, and we are committed to guiding DISH toward an exciting future together as a team. We are grateful to have you as a part of our journey.

With gratitude,

From Shelter to Stability

Family homelessness is on the rise in San Francisco. Damien and Shelly, above, along with their son, have lived at The Margot since 2019. With limited affordable housing options for families in San Francisco, they were thrilled to find a permanent home after living in a shelter. They feel lucky to be living at The Margot: the location is perfect for them, they can afford to stay in the city, and it’s easy for their son to get to school.

The stability of a home has empowered Shelly and Damien to pursue their dreams. Damien is a DISH Peer Responder, helping his community stay safe through education and peer support initiatives. Meanwhile, Shelly is working towards a bachelor’s degree to become a paralegal. They are grateful for the stability their family has now, and in particular, for their son. Thanks to being in permanent housing, he is now attending the ideal school for him, building friendships, and most importantly, he gets to grow up in a thriving community.

Families experiencing homelessness are often invisible. Their needs are urgent, yet they’re underserved by housing systems designed without them in mind. That has to change. Every parent deserves the security of knowing their children are safe. Every child deserves a bed, a home, and the stability that makes learning and growing possible. Help us ensure that no family is left without a place to call home.

A Place He Calls Home

Darryl’s journey is inspiring and one of resilience. He has navigated challenging times, from helping build a safer neighborhood for youth during peak gang violence, to recovering from a life-altering injury, and to finding a new home.

When Darryl moved into a DISH residence in 2014, he didn’t think one of his biggest adjustments would be getting to know himself. Before DISH, Darryl had to relearn how to read and write following an accident, and he knew that finding long-term support was imperative. Not only has he built relationships with his residential support services provider, he also participates in DISH’s weekly walking groups and the SHARP program promoting resident leadership, all of which have been vital to Darryl’s stability and growth. Inspired by his community, he is working on relaunching his City-recognized self-help workshop, “allyou+,” which encourages unity and empowerment for people of all ages.

Walter’s Turn

Walter came to DISH after having spent years in and out of temporary shelters, bouncing around various locations, knowing each time he would have to pack up and leave after 30 days. One fateful day, he was contacted by a street outreach counselor and Walter enthusiastically exclaimed to him, “Yes, I need a roof!”

Walter found a home at the LeNain residence. “The first room they showed me was exactly what I was looking for. I had a penthouse in the back – that’s what I called it – room enough to breathe, room enough to walk around. My own bathroom. That’s a bonus. It’s all good.” After settling in, Walter took time to get to know his fellow residents and staff. He especially appreciated the nursing staff and the library. He started attending every community meeting, and even joined the Community Advisory Board (CAB), providing feedback to DISH leadership on how to best support residents. For quiet Walter, it was the perfect way to meet people and share his years of wisdom.

Walter struggled with substance use in his earlier days, but he was able to put that behind him. He shared that he owes it all to living at the LeNain. For many, their goal of recovery is only possible once they have a stable home within a caring community.

Once residents have achieved long term stability, options to move on are scarce. Affordable housing is incredibly hard to come by, with barriers to qualify and long waiting lists due to limited housing stock. Many residents are reluctant to leave their community and give up the support even when an opportunity does arise.

For Walter, when he first heard about the opportunity to move on to Section 8 Housing, he didn’t think he qualified, and he wasn’t quite ready to apply. But this year, his opportunity popped up again, so he went for it. After 20 years of living at the LeNain, Walter took a big leap and he moved into a place all his own, just a few blocks away from his friends at the LeNain.
Walter smiled as he whispered, “I guess it’s my turn now.”.

Neighbors Supporting Neighbors

DISH is an industry leader in working to prevent overdose deaths for residents struggling with substance use. In 2024, DISH built on a strong foundation of peer- led harm reduction programs and launched an expanded Peer Responder Training program. The program has been incredibly successful, resulting in multiple years with zero overdose deaths at the Minna Lee. In response to the program’s proven results, DISH was awarded a multi-year grant by the Department of Public Health to expand the work. We are training residents from multiple organizations to become Peer Responders, acting as harm reduction resources for their communities focused on overdose prevention in Permanent Supportive Housing.

30 residents from 7 DISH sites, some pictured to the right, have completed the 3-month training program. The team will be training partner sites outside of DISH in 2025.