Medical Respite & Sobering Center - San Francisco, California

Mia K. ?. P. M. P.

I've been here for awhile now and I feel comfortable and safe here. It's better for the women. Woman get a room they share with 1 roommate (at least 6 rooms). Men stay in 3 separate dorms (2 small 10 bed dorms, 1 large 100 bed dorms). We get 3 hot meals everyday. Shared restrooms (Women's on the 3rd floor/ Men's on the 1st floor). The worker's get their own private restrooms. We have a 7PM curfew. Visits are until 10PM.
The Case Management here is horrible! They need way more training (as if they even get training). I still have the best case worker here in my opinion (the only one that actually tries to work with her clients, if they show they want assintive). I'm better now than ever... but... I'm scared to leave, because I was confident I would get help with my housing. I haven't even been notified about my housing appeal yet. There's people who have been here for over a year, waiting to get their housing, and still... NOTHING! A few of the women who left. While they were leaving, bragging about how they got their housing. Wishing them a happy farewell! Only to realize, they just got a bed in the Woman's Place (shelter)!
WE'RE HERE TO HEAL AND GET BETTER!!! 😤

Emmanuel P.

Oh San Francisco Respite, you make me float while I’m alive. Thank you all so very much from the bottom of my heart for teaching me and helping me live again. All I have is the deepest gratitude to each and every human being who put so much love and care into the lives of us survivors who have been brought here by SF General. It is because of the wonderful staff members like Stephanie, Yolanda, and Bruce. And the amazing Medical Staff members like Cyndi. Gena, Mar, Evelyn, and Ritta who love what they do who are dedicated to their hard work who have inspired me to do something good for me like attending my appointments and taking my daily meds. All of that care and love I am only grateful for making me look forward to another chance at life again. Thank you all for your love and support you always give me. You all give me hope. I love you all very much. ❤️ Love, Emmanuel

Anthony R.

Not a bad experience at all. Three meals and fairly peaceful environment. Most of the staff is great. Only gripe is the men have to share the restroom with the "sobering "clients that are bedded in a different area and are usually here for less than 12hours but don't seem to respect the fact that other people use the bathroom and don't make much effort to or obviously have control to clean up after themselves or atleast attempt to get their waste in the toilets.

Lucia P.

I had surgery recently and had nowhere to go to recuperate. I am homeless and in need of medical attention, supplies, social services, food and a bed to sleep on. I came here and everyone made me feel welcome from the start. I have a medical provider and a social worker on site. I get 3 meals a day, a bathroom, a shower, and a private and safe nursing station in which to do my wound care. I have a bed to sleep on every night. I can be here indoors 24/7 if I want to. Weekly laundry services are available for free. A van is available to take me to my doctor's appointments. A nurse is on duty 24/7. Front desk security is also on duty 24/7. Visitors are not allowed in this facility and bedtime curfew is at 10:00pm. Breakfast is at 7:00am, lunch is at 12:00pm and dinner is at 5:00pm. Vegetarian and vegan options must be arranged with staff ahead of time.

Caliboi J.

Medical Respite is a partnership between Community Forward SF and the San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH). Together, they provide respite beds and sobering facilities, along with temporary housing and specialized support services, for medically frail people impacted by homelessness.

"Client Safety Services" at this site is operated by the competent professionals of St. Anthony's. As anyone familiar with St. Anthony's Dining Room can attest, the staff are trained to defuse situations safely, keeping in mind that their role is not limited to simply "employees" - they care for the safety of ALL individuals while protecting the properties under their care. Any it is a huge role they play in the operations at Med-Respite. I want to make absolutely clear they are NOT mere "security".

I have had the opportunity to observe several members of the Client Safety Services (at Med-Respite) interact during emotional, intense, and volitional outburst and clearly their training is a level that any human being could appreciate and even applaud. The goal being that everyone is always SAFE. EVERYONE!

And while they never lose sight of their own personal safety, to anyone standing on the side line and observing, you have to ask yourself "where did they get their training?" They have the "protective" training of law enforcement, the swiftness to respond of a fire department, and handle all situations with the professionalism and patience of a LCSW! And even when tensions escalate, additional skills quickly come into use. Never - Never forgetting their objective - their goal. Or even their purpose. You see, it would have been "cheaper" to just print "security" on everything. Sew a patch on a shirt. "Client Safety Services" is the NEXT GENERATION here TODAY. And you know what? Everyone went home safe to their family! More organizations could benefit from training that takes variable factors into consideration - and processing information at lightening speed.

There are 2 people in particular I want to say a heartfelt "thank you" for your dedication to keeping us all safe in and around the buildings which you service. It is your level of commitment to ensuring that everyone is treated with respect and dignity in the course of performing a job that (trust me) many can not do.

To Lonnie, you listened when others had no time. It meant the world to me at a time when I needed to be heard - you taught me that there are times when I must listen. And to Wayne... we were all born with "common sense" and there have been times when I have forgotten that one little thing ... thank you for reminding me that I should never bring gasoline to a bonfire! When I get upset - common sense goes out the window. What The ability of an individual to keep the lid on a situation, starts with the ability to remember the skills essential to defusing a situation - not escalate them. And you are right, when one is angry - its nearly impossible to remember basic common sense!

Thank you - St. Anthony's, Community Forward SF, Med-Respite, CCSF DPH - and last, but never least, Wayne, Lonnie and all the staff of Client Safety Services. It's because of YOU that I have grown. CJ

Dollie H.

This place is awesome but in the wrong area. No one stands a chance of getting clean and sober because of the atmosphere that surrounds the place. The city should really reconsider moving the place somewhere else. It would be more safe for the clients. The staff is nice.

Richard H.

This place is phenomenal they got me back healthy after going through a tragic incident. Patient with me I'm very supportive along with all the other patients there. Keep up the good work.

Justine F.

As a client here, the staff is great, the leadership is great, and the Social Workers are above par! I've had a very good experience here, even through this horrible pandemic. Thank you.