“North Beach Citizens is a nonprofit serving the unhoused and extremely low-income with trust, integrity, and respect…”
Kristie Fairchild, Executive Director of North Beach Citizens
On a fogged-in September morning, Kristie Fairchild, Executive Director of North Beach Citizens for the last 21 years, opened doors to their weekly Wednesday food pantry. While volunteers arranged groceries into paper bags, case managers settled into their offices, and the day set into action, the venue had already begun to do what it does best—transform into a multifaceted community space. Tables and chairs were set up in the main community room to welcome people needing assistance, shelves of donated clothes lined the back corner of the room, case managers greeted people with donuts and coffee as open hours started. The back doors were propped open, extending the small layout into Nottingham Alley where fresh produce was handed out to a line of smiling faces. The place was buzzing with a kinetic, family-like energy. One would be amazed to learn that the team comprises of only five permanent staff, but, as Assistant Director Leona Alcorn put it, “It's so easy to come to work and to have the energy to make it all happen.”
North Beach Citizen, its employees, clients, and its mission are just as homegrown and authentic as its surroundings. Located in the heart of North Beach at 1034 Kearny St., the nonprofit maximizes its efficiency by taking stock of resources all around the Bay Area. Since 2001, North Beach Citizens has worked with the neighborhood and its many assets to bring people together over the issue of poverty and homelessness with charisma and integrity.
Fairchild explained that the goal of establishing a “low barrier access point” was actualized by her and her team but was first envisioned by renowned film director and revered local legend Francis Ford Coppola. Like many residents of San Francisco, Coppola saw the homeless crisis as something he could not look away from.
After meeting with residents, merchants, and public service officers in the Spring of 2000, Coppola knew community engagement to be a remedy to the persistent stigma of homelessness. Since then, he has played an active role as the organization's founder. In fact, many still remember the taste of Coppola’s homemade red sauce and his mother’s meatball recipes served at North Beach Citizens’ benefits held in the basement of Saint Peter and Paul Church.
All people deserve equal treatment and recognition. Coppola put this well when saying that every individual has the right to be seen as what they are, “[a] vital, complicated, interesting story.”
Today, over 590 people, ranging from drop-ins to decade-long clients, have been met exactly where they are and given an irreplaceable sense of belonging that begins at the front door.
Adam Hiller, a case manager at North Beach Citizens, perfectly captured the organization's values when sharing a story of a client named Denis Alexie.
During the pandemic, on Fairchild’s drive to work, she noticed Alexie, who at the time was living on the streets of Fisherman’s Wharf, underneath his blankets, and surrounded by his belongings—he was always in the same doorway. One day, Fairchild got out of the car and approached him, and although the conversation was cordial, it was clear that Alexie could not make the 20 block trip up to North Beach Citizens. Nevertheless, Fairchild persisted, continually checking in, setting up benefit intakes, phone calls, and appointments down to Alexie's location in hopes of getting him support.
Eventually, Fairchild asked Hiller to outreach to Alexie, and instantaneously, they hit it off. After many conversations and a blossoming friendship, Alexie made his way to the Kearny St. office.
“We do a lot of work to let our community know that we are here when they are ready,” Hiller said with a smile, later remarking that with the help of the City’s coordinated entry system, Alexie has acquired permanent housing, living in the only apartment in the complex with his own private bathroom. Furthermore, with the help of case management services, he has now received financial benefits that he deserves as a now 65 year old.
However, despite uplifting success stories like Alexie's, and living with the backdrop of a responsive, liberal, inclusive community, the harsh reality persists: poverty remains rampant in the wealthiest nation on Earth. There is no avoiding that.
With 34 million people living in poverty nationwide and 1 out of 3 people only one or two missed paychecks away from being homeless, contributing to North Beach Citizens could help someone you know.
A critical part of outreach work is resource centers, and as a resource center, North Beach Citizens is well connected with everything from local clinics and SROs (single-room occupancy hotels) to state and federal programs. Each client has tailored assistance in navigating medical and mental health services as well as treatment and benefit programs, including Social Security, CAL fresh, Medi-Cal, San Francisco County General Assistance programs, and more. Sometimes, they act as a rest stop to direct clients to specialized social services such as clinical mental health providers like Felton Institute, UCSF, CityWide, and In-home Support Services. Help can also be as simple as providing a person with a pair of emergency socks and shoes.
Along with being a resource center, North Beach Citizens offers a myriad of services and programs that help those in need. The Housing Assistance Program follows the main initiative of getting people housed, 88% of whom are fully disabled mentally and or physically. Provided programs include Emergency Interim Housing, Transitional Housing, one-time Eviction Protections, and Move-In Funds.
Housing is the launchpad for many external programs. Although nearly 68% of clients qualify for state-provided benefits, such as Social Security Disability Insurance, 70% of initial claims are denied by the federal government if the necessary collection of proof of disability is not documented. Even with a supportive case management team, the process can extend for up to three years, and having a stable place to live during the interim can stabilize clients and set the stage for their success.
Although North Beach Citizens' foremost goal is to get clients permanently housed, they continuously draw from their three pillars—Food, Housing, and Stability—to combat recidivism and reduce the likelihood of returning to the streets, rebuild their clients' dignity, and help them gain confidence.
“Once a client, always a client. There is no timeline,” Fairchild put firmly when mentioning that North Beach Citizens operates solely on grants and individual donations to keep the doors open.
“Most of our funding comes from people within the community and San Francisco,” Administrative Assistant Gina Baldanzi said, and, “that's huge because if we do take government funding, timelines and funding for case management can be limiting and sometimes this will not result in outcomes which benefit the clients. The trust that we build with our clients at the beginning is key to our success.”
According to a 2023 article from the San Francisco Chronicle, 80% of people who enter shelters leave to unknown destinations that are most likely not permanent or even temporary housing. Bureaucracy can rarely encompass all needs of someone fighting homelessness, and returning to the streets without proper resources can be lethal.
Recognizing the systemic nature of this crisis, North Beach Citizens’ team is committed to counteracting institutional apathy by founding deep-rooted relationships with clients. When clients are seeking assistance navigating systems which seem almost unmanageable, North Beach Citizens' grassroots engagement makes a difference.
Those fighting homelessness need more than just temporary shelter; they need a reliable community hub and network to lean on. After more than two decades of experience North Beach Citizens know this approach to be the key to long-term resolution.
At North Beach Citizens the process is a reciprocal one.
When Alcorn places someone into new housing who has been homeless for years on end, “I feel like it’s my payday, and that visual of them being content is what drives me.”
This unique sense of joy and personal engagement is rarely found elsewhere. It allows individuals who have been failed by the system and are mired in red tape to breathe a sigh of relief. It helps affirm their right to finally feel seen and respected.
The organization's ethics never compromise their substantial results, with 93% of clients remaining housed for a year or more after working with North Beach Citizens.
Once individuals are housed they can also get assistance stocking their new pantries. In collaboration with the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, Food Runners, and Copia, and under the supervision of Food Pantry Supervisor Amaker Lee, North Beach Citizens has distributed a total of 120,286 pounds of food.
The impossible decision of choosing between purchasing food, paying rent, and covering medical costs is one no one should go through alone, and, as always, North Beach Citizens prioritizes a local and human-centered and personalized approach to assistance.
However, the significance of small gestures is never lost on North Beach Citizens, and they know them to be just as impactful as larger initiatives. By offering clothing and personalized hygiene bags in addition to hosting holiday parties with gift-wrapped presents for their clients, the organization ensures that individuals feel valued as human beings rather than just another number in a system.
North Beach Citizens thrives on the generosity of its donors and the dedication of its volunteers. Their visionary team only has more ideas on how to shape the future of care. With support, these ambitions can translate from ideas into impactful realities, touching lives and making a tangible difference in the community.
Hiller made a point of mentioning that immediately upon receiving a donation, “Everything counts towards directly supporting our operations, especially the Stabilization Program that keeps our clients housed.”
Although services continue when funding takes a hit, and there is no shortage of vigor amongst the small but mighty team, operations do slow down. Services even come to a halt, as in the case of their current Street Beautification Program. Without endorsements, there is no stipend to fund the program, which incentives food gift cards to graduates of the Stabilization Program and provides them with monetary support.
This is a great shame since the program has collected nearly 5,000 pieces of litter, helping build strong relationships with nearby businesses and keeping the streets clean for the children attending the several surrounding schools. Contribution, whether that be through donation or volunteering, could help make this program come alive again.
Later that afternoon, Wednesday’s food drive came to a close. Satisfied people walked away with food, clothes, guidance, but most importantly, a sense of community—a place to rely on time after time. Some wore buttons from North Beach Citizens that read, “POVERTY IS NOT A CRIME.” While poverty may not be a crime, it remains an unrelenting issue that takes a village to address. This requires sustained backing to ensure the continuation of long-term and compassionate care.
For those interested in supporting North Beach Citizens, a simple yet impactful first step can be connecting with someone in the community who may be facing challenges, whether it’s a familiar face encountered on the street or a friend in need. If donation is not an option, this personal outreach can bridge the gap, helping individuals access the vital resources that North Beach Citizens has to offer.
Attending their Fall and Spring Benefits is an excellent way for supporters to deepen their understanding of how they can make and contribute to meaningful change.
Regardless of how one gets involved with North Beach Citizens, every contribution transforms the perception of homelessness and how it can be combated, reconnecting all those involved with their humanity.
