About Us

We meet our guests where they’re at.

Our Mission

Community Forward helps the vulnerable individuals of SF get off the street, find comprehensive services, and achieve stability so they may thrive.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We, the people of Community Forward SF, commit to cultivating an anti-oppressive creative and collaborative culture. Here, we share our guiding principles to foster workspaces that center equity, respect, justice, and accountability. As systemic transformation necessitates full community participation, commitment to these values and practices is requisite and foundational for all who work at Community Forward SF.

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Our Values

Love

We create a community of belonging, taking responsibility to care for each other and ourselves.

Integrity

We create an honest and trustworthy environment.

People-Centered

We understand the needs and realities of our community and have courage to transform our world.

Excellence

We strive to offer the best service to our people.

Equity

We provide equitable and inclusive pathways to opportunity for our guests and staff.

Our History

Founded in 1978, Forward SF formerly known as Community Awareness and Treatment Services or C.A.T.S, believes that it takes us all to move our community forward. What began as a residential substance use treatment facility for Vietnam War veterans has grown into a multi-site operation providing a range of essential services for community members experiencing homelessness.

Our network of programs is designed to work in tandem to meet clients at every stage of their need, with a special focus on three core populations: cis and transgender women, older adults, and those with severe medical or mental health needs.