SF’s Jazzie’s Place LGBTQ shelter triples in size

San Francisco’s only queer adult homeless shelter has tripled in size. The increase in beds is thanks to a $18 million city grant. 

Jazzie’s Place, at 1050 South Van Ness Avenue, is overseen by Mission Action (formerly Dolores Street Community Services). The Bay Area Reporter previously reported that the Mission district shelter reached its full, pre-COVID capacity of 24 beds back in December 2023. 

But now, a new dorm with 44 beds has opened due to the grant from the city’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing that was approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in April. The expansion opened October 1. In addition to the 44 beds, there are also six that are added for single adults not identifying as LGBTQ, bringing the total number to 50. 

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie touted the increase in a statement October 1.

“Since day one of our administration, we’ve been working to address our city’s homelessness and behavioral health crisis because those struggling on our streets should have the chance to get better,” Lurie stated. “With the expansion of Jazzie’s Place and Dolores Shelter, we are strengthening support for San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ community and adding beds so that more people can have a safe place to find stability and support.”

So, too, did District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder, a queer woman.

“The expansion of such vital housing and services for the unhoused and especially the LGBTQ+ community is sorely needed,” stated Fielder. “We are proud that this program operates in District 9 and thankful that the Dolores Shelter and Jazzie's Place have the support needed to grow and provide wraparound services to an even greater number of community members in need of this safety net.”

Laura Valdez, a queer woman who is the executive director of Mission Action, recently gave the B.A.R. a tour of the facility before a birthday celebration for the late trans and disability rights advocate Jazzie Collins, for whom the shelter is named. Collins, a Black transgender woman and activist, would have been 67 this past September 24. She died in 2013.

“We’ve only had one dormitory as part of the shelter,” Valdez said as she showed a reporter the space. “Now, we have 44 new beds, all together in this new dormitory, for the LGBTQ community.”

New dormitory
In addition to beds there are new bathrooms with ADA-accessible showers and changing rooms, and lockers with phone chargers.

“This is all the new build out for folks,” Valdez continued. 

Despite a $170 million cut this year to the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing’s budget, Mission Action hasn’t felt the pinch other nonprofits have reported facing. 

“We did not experience any cuts for the Dolores shelter program, or for Jazzie’s,” Valdez said. 

“This build out was through capital dollars. The department had allocated capital dollars to be able to do the work here. As you can see, there was electrical work that had to be done so that there’s AC in the unit, electrical, everything had to be done to code and permitting so it was a significant amount of work,” said Valdez.

Stephanie Senna, the program director for Jazzie’s, said the mood as the shelter opens is one of anticipation. Mission Action declined to state how Senna identifies under the LGBTQ umbrella, except that her pronouns are she/her/ella.

“The excitement the clients have at being able to have a bigger dorm, the environment, the nice bathrooms I think we are providing for them, the services that we give them – I’m just very excited and can’t wait for them to be able to experience these new beds,” Senna said. 

A transgender woman who is a client of Jazzie’s Place but wished to remain anonymous is grateful for the support they received, revealing, “After my HIV diagnosis, I tried to end my life here at the shelter.”

“Stephanie and her team saved me,” the person continued. “They were well-trained and responded immediately, even administering Narcan when I needed it most. When I came back from the hospital to Jazzie’s Place, I hugged Stephanie because, thanks to her and the staff, I’m still here today. I’m so grateful for this space.”

Jaime Torres, a straight ally who is director of housing and shelter programs for Jazzie’s Place, said that people can stay at the shelter until they find another housing option. 

“It’s unlimited,” Torres said when asked about any residency limits. “Once they obtain a bed, it’s up to them if they’d like to stay till they find another housing option, whether that’s a bed, a shelter, a nav[igation] center, a [single-room occupancy hotel], or housing through problem solving.”

“All our partners work with the LGBTQ community and know the dorm's qualifications,” stated Torres.

He added, “There is a referral process where selected partners in SF can refer participants direct to our shelter.”

Asked if the stay is unlimited, Torres confirmed that. 

“Correct, unless someone gets housed or has found other housing options. Once they are exited, the team reports the open space to the community partners,” Torres stated.

The San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology was on site at the Collins’ birthday celebration to provide free haircuts. Jacob Essiambre, a gay man who is a teacher at the institute, said he hopes the haircuts become a regular Jazzie’s event.

“We’re just trying to see how it is,” Essiambre said. “Stephanie [Senna] invited us, and we hope to do more events in the future. One-hundred percent volunteering our time, our students’ time as well, they’re getting [credit] hours for the work, but obviously, we’re doing free services for the community.”

Shireen McSpadden, a bi woman who is executive director of the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, stated, “Creating a safe space where all individuals including people from the LGBTQ+ community and the Mission District can find shelter and support is critical. The new beds at the Dolores Shelter will help alleviate capacity issues and through Jazzie’s Place, ensure that LGBTQ+ adults have access to the services they need during a transitional period in their lives.”

A spokesperson for the city’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing hailed the expansion, stating it is “providing essential support to people experiencing homelessness as well as LGBTQ adults seeking shelter at Jazzie’s Place.”

“The Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing is thrilled to support a major bed expansion at the Dolores Shelter home to Jazzie’s Place, a vital resource in the San Francisco homelessness response system,” the spokesperson stated to the B.A.R. “Improvements to the site include the addition of new bathrooms and other essential amenities, ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for all guests. … This expansion helps to underscore Jazzie’s dedication to celebrating LGBTQ individuals and fostering an inclusive environment where they can thrive on their journey out of homelessness and into stability.”

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