Bay Area/ San Francisco
Published on April 26, 2016
Pop-Up 'Care Village' For Homeless Residents Up & Running At Main LibraryPhotos: Brittany Hopkins/Hoodline

The Main Public Library's Fulton Street entrance is abuzz this afternoon with Lava Mae's first "Care Village" for homeless residents.

Leah Filler with Lava Mae—the local nonprofit mobile shower service—says this pop-up event was inspired by Off The Grid mobile food truck events and Project Homeless Connect service provider bazaars. It aims to "bring access to more services and collective impact to more people on the streets where they're at."

Until 2pm today, homeless residents are encouraged to stop by Care Village to enjoy free food and access nine different service providers, including free food and clothes, showers, medical assistance and legal advice. A handful of neighborhood organizations are also onsite, including Code Tenderloin, Tender Cuts and the Concrn crisis response app.

Tender Cuts pop-up barber shop is set up on the sidewalk while The Street Store has taken over the steps to offer free clothing. 

Del Seymour, founder of Code Tenderloin, said the event is similar to Project Homeless Connect but offers a much more personal feel than the massive quarterly events inside Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.

Filler added that they're considering today's event a "logistical laboratory." Once they work out the kinks, they hope to host more pop-ups in different forms regularly. Organizations that would like to get involved in a future Care Village can reach out to [email protected].