In the News
“ECS’ Executive Director Beth Stokes spoke with The Examiner in a recent interview about the challenges in running a nonprofit in San Francisco. She said she’s prepared for changes both good and bad in the coming months as Mayor Daniel Lurie’s administration addresses The City’s homelessness crisis and changes from President Donald Trump’s administration threaten federal avenues of support.”
“If we’re gonna continue to operate the housing, we have to pay the insurance,” said Chris Callandrillo, ECS’ Chief Program Officer. “We’ve got to get that from somewhere, and that burden is huge.”
For Pride Month, the editorial teams at the Nob Hill Gazette and the San Francisco Examiner wanted toshine a spotlight on leaders in the LGBTQ+ community, those who are making a difference in the City that is synonymous with Pride. In 2025, when federal rights are being challenged, accomplishments erased and identities targeted, this focus feels more important than ever. Thank you, Nob Hill Gazette, for featuring ECS’ work.
“…we’re asking people who support ECS to dig deeper into philanthropy to provide more support, particularly around basic needs. It’s going into the community to ask for additional support. If the funding is not there, which is all that we hear right now, there is no more money. If budgets get cut, which they [have been], then how do you move forward and help people survive with basic needs?”
“It’s money that local governments and their nonprofit partners, like Episcopal Community Services, rely on to tackle homelessness, and they’re at risk of losing it.”
“Would you rather have people on the street, suffering, their health completely deteriorating, with no quality of life?” asked Beth Stokes, Executive Director of ECS. “Versus being here — this is stable. This is peaceful. People get well here. And it’s actually a better bargain for the taxpayers.”
Thank you, KQED, for spotlighting the new Trump administration rules that threaten to cut off vital federal homelessness funding. These funds support services that truly change lives. Read more about residents like Sloan, who says stable housing and wraparound support have helped him rebuild his life.
“Three years later, Reed’s life has taken a turn. He’s living at a permanent supportive housing site run by the nonprofit Episcopal Community Services, where he has his own room — air fryer and all.
But a budget proposal President Donald Trump announced this month could make life much harder for Reed and others like him. The proposal would gut housing funds for the city and nonprofits that depend on federal money to keep people housed.”
“When compared to other jurisdictions, San Francisco reportedly has the highest percentage of shelter guests with severe mental illness or addiction. But shelter operators say they don’t have enough funding or resources to support their high-needs clients or to address street conditions outside their buildings.”
The group of volunteers make about 2,000 meals a year. This batch will be going to the Mentone, a permanent supportive housing site in the city’s Tenderloin.
“Research consistently shows supportive housing — like the kind [ECS resident] Bukenya is receiving — leads not only to positive changes in residents’ lives, but to cost savings for taxpayers, too.”
Read the full KQED story here.