(Back row, left to right): Andrew, Teo, Matt, Mike, Robert, Bernet.
(Front:) Ron, John and Julie-Anne. Ron is our Wednesday receptionist, the rest of the folks are counselors.
(l-r) Pat, Dale and Jim. Dale is our Monday receptionist.
Chuck, our Tuesday and Thursday receptionist.
Staffer Hing-Chee and Gary who does data intake.
Folsom lives upstairs but don't tell her that.
Volunteers
Like all grassroots
organizations, Housing Rights Committee depends on volunteer help to
provide the services we make available to tenants throughout San
Francisco.
Volunteers do
many great jobs--xeroxing, collating, mailings, data entry, etc. One of
the
most important jobs is tenants rights counseling, advising clients who
walk in
the door or call for help. Tenants' problems
range from illegal rent increases and evictions to lack of repairs and
non-return of security deposits. We do not provide legal counsel, so
you don't have to be a lawyer to be a counselor. Volunteers are trained
and given a handbook
to help them learn about tenants rights protections.
Volunteers
also work as receptionists on counseling days (Monday through
Thursday), answering the phones and
instructing people on the intake process. Without them, we could not
help over 4,000 people a year.
Pictured
(left) are some of
the many wonderful people who help out weekly.
Another
job that's always needed around the office is that of interpreter or translator.
Housing Rights strives to provide counseling in English, Spanish,
Mandarin, and Cantonese. At times, there are counselors who speak other
languages, as well. We also like to have a Russian speaker on board.
Interpreters/translators help with a myriad of tasks--from
interpretting for counselors to translating brochures and other
literature.
If you're interested
in volunteering and being part of our exciting
volunteer team, call Tommi or Stephanie at 415-703-8634 or email
us at info@hrcsf.org.
Housing Rights Committee
427 South Van Ness
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 703-8644