Amid ongoing efforts to empower and stabilize vulnerable populations in San Francisco, Mayor Daniel Lurie has inaugurated a new community resource center in SoMa. The center, operated by United Playaz, will enhance the organization's existing array of services geared towards preparing youth for better futures in education, work, and health within a supportive atmosphere.
Funded partly by the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development and bolstered by significant state and federal grants, the center at 1044 Howard expands programming spaces to strengthen family literacy and support individuals re-entering society post-incarceration. Caught up in the fervor of the opening, Mayor Lurie shared, "It is United Playaz, events like this, and communities like this that give me hope. Because when we work together, come together, and are together, there is no stopping San Francisco,” underscoring the city's united stance against challenges, as the City's announcement detailed.
Located near United Playaz's main clubhouse, the new facility also serves as the SoMa Youth Collaborative Summer Program hub. Having acquired the space in 2022, United Playaz aims to use the additional 3,200 square feet for vital community meetings and events, emphasizing their commitment to the area's growth and well-being.
The enhancement of the Howard Street property received support through a mixture of public and private funding, including a significant commitment from Assemblymember Matt Haney, who praised the organization's longstanding efforts: “United Playaz for decades has been actively working to solve some of the most challenging problems that our downtown community faces,” offering a space congruent with their substantial impact, as reported by the City and County of San Francisco.
