Dear Beloved GLIDE Community,

As we march into the new year, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on 2022. Despite the unprecedented challenges of the past year, we have persevered and continued to make a positive impact on the lives of those most in need. We have accomplished much together and are truly grateful for your commitment, your service, and your dedication. Your compassion has made a tremendous difference, and looking to 2023, our community will continue to need this loving support.

Last year, Black and Latinx residents continued to be disproportionately represented among the homeless population. Drug overdose has been a leading cause of death among our unhoused neighbors. Many families are struggling to adjust as stimulus checks and government support from COVID-19 come to an end, while inflation and housing costs continue to rise. These challenges heavily affect the underserved and overburdened communities, pushing more individuals and families to the brink.

At GLIDE, we see every day the power of unconditional love and radical inclusion within our community, our staff, our clients. It gives us hope for the future and inspires us to dream big and to continue moving GLIDE forward. We have always been dedicated to confronting poverty, addiction, systemic bias, and homelessness head-on. We are confident that we will continue to do so in the coming year. If you haven’t seen our Impact Report, please take a moment to do so.  

Here’s just a few of the ways that we are striving to make even more of an impact this year:

Through our evidence-based mobile services strategy, we’re ready to expand our reach into more vulnerable neighborhoods across San Francisco with a fleet of mobile vans, community partnerships, street outreach and resource hubs.

We’re committed to supporting more children and families in these uncertain economic times by providing essential childcare, education and developmental services through our Janice Mirikitani Family, Youth and Childcare Center (FYCC).  

As housing continues to slip further out of reach for too many of our neighbors, GLIDE will provide more direct rental assistance, education, and support for clients as they navigate the intricacies of the housing system in San Francisco.  

We will renew our dedication to our advocacy for policies and initiatives that address the root causes of poverty and homelessness, and work to create a more equitable and inclusive society.  
We thank each and every one of you for being a part of GLIDE.  Whether you are a client, volunteer, donor, staff member, community member, or Church member, your commitment to social justice is inspiring, and it is appreciated.

This video from SF Standard at our recent Christmas celebration at 330 Ellis is a good example of the special and unique community that is GLIDE.  

As we now head into 2023, GLIDE is preparing for transition. After nearly six years heading GLIDE, Karen Hanrahan is departing, and Board Member Malcolm Walter is serving as Interim CEO. We look forward to welcoming a new leader this coming year, who will continue Karen's legacy of building the next generation of GLIDE and advancing our multi-year strategy, known as GLIDE Forward.

Here is to an impactful 2023.

Karen Hanrahan & Malcolm Walter