Bay Area/ San Francisco/ Retail & Industry
Published on August 15, 2016
After 37 Years, Haight Ashbury Psychological Services Could Be Evicted For New Housing UnitsImage via Google

Haight Ashbury Psychological Services (HAPS) has operated out of its 2166 Hayes St. location for 37 years, providing low-fee psychotherapy to those in need, as well as education, training, and supervision to those who serve them. But it looks like the business is about to face eviction, as the building owners seek to destroy the site and build residential units in its place.

According to an application filed with SF Planning, the property owners are aiming to demolish HAPS' building to construct three four-story residential buildings, each with a ground-floor garage. Each building would have three units, for a total of nine units. However, the proposal is still subject to review.

A rendering of the proposed new building. | Image: Leonardo Zylberberg Architecture/SF Planning

Donna Zoll, co-director of HAPS, told Hoodline that the situation is dire. The clinic currently has between 12 and 16 interns, each with eight to 10 clients, all of whom would be displaced if HAPS is evicted.

"We heard from someone who attended a neighborhood meeting. They've submitted an application with the city and are at the environmental impact part, waiting to be assigned a planner," Zoll said.

Zoll sees no reason the city would turn down the application. "We are on a month-to-month lease and if the owners decided to do so, we could be out on the street in literally 30 days. That means clients with nowhere to go, the HAPS training program shut down, our doors closed forever."

HAPS has set up a GoFundMe page, with the goal of raising $65,000 to cover first and last month's rents, deposits, moving expenses, and the costs of remaining closed during the move.

"I don't think there is any way we wouldn't have to move," Zoll said. "If you care deeply about HAPS and what’s happening in the city with nonprofits being forced out, now is the time to show it. We may not have much time left." 

As always, we'll keep you posted if and when we get more information.