Mission Economic Development Agency

THIS DECEMBER: Calling all #Changemakers for a Resilient Mission Community

Strengthening Immigrant Families and Entrepreneurs This Giving Season

The coronavirus pandemic has laid bare the economic inequalities and systemic inadequacies that have long existed across the country.  The images are stark closer to home in San Francisco’s Mission District: Our immigrant community members were the first to lose their jobs, experience food insecurity, be in need of a computer to homeschool their kids and not be able to pay their rent.

At the start of this crisis, MEDA pivoted its approach to focus on three key areas for those hit hardest by the pandemic: Income; Business;  and Housing. 

Your support resulted in:In addition to: 

• 269 families assisted with eviction moratorium
• 66 families placed into affordable housing

Over the last few months, MEDA has provided 1:1 coaching and support services in these areas for nearly 5,000 households in the Mission and beyond.  As we close out this year, we need your support to go deeper with these families and businesses we’ve identified as being the most vulnerable. 

This means more focused, bilingual and remote technical assistance on the critical topics businesses need to reopen and thrive, ongoing financial coaching for our families and 1:1 support for families to secure safer housing or ensure they don’t face eviction during this time.

MEDA's housing team and promotoras have helped over 2,000 community members apply for over 6,000 below-market-rate units during this crisis. 

 On this #GivingTuesday, MEDA is aiming to kick-off its end of year campaign by sharing it’s fundraising goal of $20,000 to help us continue to empower families and entrepreneurs in our three key areas: Income; Business; and Housing.  Falling on December 1, #GivingTuesday is the global day of giving powered by social media and collaboration.  We’re excited to announce that a generous donor has pledged to match every donation that comes in up to $10,000. That means your gift has 2x the impact, at no extra cost to you!

Share this message with your friends and family and mark your calendar for 12-1-20. Early donations are open, so if you’d like to give now, all donations count towards the match and our #GivingTuesday totals.   

 YOUR DONATION WILL ENSURE: 

• We can provide more focused, bilingual technical assistance for our entrepreneurs on how to safely reopen, adapt their businesses to curbside/online and retain their employees
• Strengthening Income for families: ongoing and personalized financial coaching for families, including budgeting, accessing relief funds and  job placements 
• Keeping families housed: supporting thousands of below-market-rate rental unit applications, letters to landlords, mortgage support and eviction prevention support

The socially distanced MEDA team dropped off 17 computers to homes so that kids could perform distance learning and parents could also have a laptop. Thanks to Twitter for the in-kind donation.

 Read about the fund, here.

NOTE ON ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDING & PARTNERSHIPS

In order to fulfill our mission, MEDA relies on financial support from various sources as well as partnerships with entities from a range of sectors. However, acceptance of support or collaboration does not necessarily represent alignment with all of the opinions, positions, views, or investments of our partners, sponsors, or public and private funders/donors. We maintain independence and adherence to our core values at all times. We are also involved in ongoing efforts to share our perspectives and positions on actions and policies that promote equity for the communities we serve.