Downtown Streets Team
Downtown Streets Team is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2005 in Palo Alto, that runs volunteer work-experience and paid transitional employment programs for unhoused and low-income adults across 16 Northern and Central California communities. The organization is scheduled to cease operations on October 31, 2025.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersSan Jose, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Downtown Streets Team does
Downtown Streets Team (DST) is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 20-5242330), founded in 2005 in Palo Alto by Eileen Richardson, a former venture capitalist and former CEO of Napster. Its mission is to help homeless and low-income men and women rebuild their lives through a volunteer work-experience model that combines structured street beautification activities with intensive case management, employment services, basic-needs stipends (gift cards), and a peer-led community anchored by weekly success meetings. The organization grew from four unhoused Team Members and a budget under $40,000 to approximately 16 communities across Northern and Central California (including Palo Alto, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Marin, Santa Cruz, Modesto, Redwood City, and others), serving more than 400 unhoused Californians at any given time with a staff of nearly 100 and a historical annual operating budget of approximately $14 million.
DST operates two principal programs: Streets Team Volunteers (STVP), the flagship volunteer work-experience program, and Streets Team Enterprises (STE), an employment social enterprise providing paid transitional employment through contracts with Caltrans (Back2Work highway litter removal), Community Benefit Districts, SolTrans (facility maintenance), and Santa Clara County RISE (building maintenance). Supporting offerings include individualized case management, employment services (resume building, interview prep, workplace soft skills), the Petaluma mobile showers program, and the Downtown Food Closet. The organization has helped over 4,000 individuals transition into employment or housing since inception.
DST's business model is grant and donation-funded rather than commercially priced; services are provided free of charge to participants. Revenue streams include government grants and contracts (CalCRG $1.8M in 2023, WIOA $2M in 2023, City of Modesto $2.1M over three years), corporate and individual donations (Molina Healthcare $10K in 2023, Google and Twitter funding for DST-San Francisco), and fees from Community Benefit Districts for beautification services. The organization has announced that it will close all operations effective October 31, 2025, after 20 years of service.
Downtown Streets Team firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Downtown Streets Team
- Legal name
- Downtown Streets Team
- Website
- https://streetsteam.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Downtown Streets Team is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2005 in Palo Alto, that runs volunteer work-experience and paid transitional employment programs for unhoused and low-income adults across 16 Northern and Central California communities. The organization is scheduled to cease operations on October 31, 2025.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Downtown Streets Team industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Homeless and social services
- NAICS
- Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Community Food Services (624210)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Sanitary Services (4950)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI), Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO)
Keywords
Where Downtown Streets Team is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Jose
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices17 records
Markets served
Downtown Streets Team business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, DST relies heavily on charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization mentions specific corporate donors like Molina Healthcare ($10,000 donation in 2023).
- Government Grants and Contracts: DST receives significant funding through government grants including California Community Reinvestment Grant Program ($1.8M in 2023), WIOA Governor's discretionary funds ($2M in 2023), and municipal contracts such as the $2.1M three-year contract with City of Modesto.
- Fees from Community Benefit Districts: Streets Team Enterprises generates revenue through fees paid by Community Benefit Districts, which are funded through neighborhood property assessments. This supports the paid employment crew operations.
- Caltrans Back2Work Program Revenue: Streets Team Enterprises crews provide litter removal services on California highways through the Back2Work initiative, funded by Caltrans and administered by Butte County Office of Education.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free services for homeless individuals |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Downtown Streets Team product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Downtown Streets Team provides unhoused and low-income adults with volunteer work-experience opportunities cleaning streets, parks, and public spaces, combined with case management, employment services, basic-needs stipends, and pathways to housing. Its employment social enterprise, Streets Team Enterprises, provides paid transitional jobs with wraparound support in partnership with Caltrans, Community Benefit Districts, and transit agencies. Services are delivered free of charge to participants across 16 communities in Northern and Central California.
Product overview
Downtown Streets Team operates two interconnected programs: Streets Team Volunteers, its flagship volunteer work-experience program that provides unhoused individuals with structured beautification activities while offering case management and employment support, and Streets Team Enterprises, its employment social enterprise that offers paid transitional jobs with wraparound services. Supporting these core programs are Case Management Services, Employment Services, Weekly Success Meetings, and Mobile Showers. The organization serves 16 communities across Northern and Central California.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Streets Team Enterprises (STE): The employment social enterprise division of Downtown Streets Team that provides paid transitional employment, job training, and wraparound services to unhoused adults, formerly incarcerated individuals, and others in housing or rehabilitation programs.
- Streets Team Volunteers (STVP)
Products and services
- Streets Team Volunteers The flagship volunteer work-experience program inviting unhoused individuals to volunteer on Teams dedicated to cleaning streets, parks, and public spaces while charting a path out of homelessness. Provides structured daily activity that fosters community, builds confidence, reaffirms dignity, and develops employment soft skills (punctuality, cooperation, responsibility). Participants receive case management, basic-needs stipends via gift cards, and access to housing and employment services.
- Streets Team Enterprises An employment social enterprise that provides paid transitional employment, job training, and wraparound case management for people impacted by homelessness, systemic trauma, and incarceration. Operates crews performing litter abatement, building maintenance, and transit facility upkeep under contract with Caltrans, SolTrans, Santa Clara County RISE, Community Benefit Districts, and other partners. Offers a stepping stone to full-time employment with supportive services.
- Case Management Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 4,000 individuals helped achieve employment or housing
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Downtown Streets Team
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Downtown Streets Team technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Downtown Streets Team partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
24 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Good Karma Bikes of San JoseminorBicycle donation program that provided San Jose Team Member Evelyn with a new set of wheels after her bike was stolen.
- VOICES Youth CenterminorPartnered with DST to conduct surveys of over 600 people experiencing homelessness for WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) needs assessment report.
- CaltranscoreStreets Team Enterprises partners with Caltrans for the Back2Work initiative, providing litter removal services on California highways in Solano, Napa, Santa Clara, Alameda, and San Mateo counties. All workers are individuals who have formerly or are currently experiencing homelessness.
- United WaycorePartnership since Modesto launch in 2019 supporting workforce development and homeless services.
- Stanislaus CountycoreCounty partnership since 2019 supporting Modesto operations and homeless services.
- Workforce Development of Stanislaus CountycorePartnership supporting employment services and workforce training for Team Members.
- SolTranscorePublic transportation provider of Solano County, partnering with STE for Facility Technicians who keep transit stops clean, functional, and clear of graffiti, while performing unhoused outreach in project areas.
- Butte County Office of EducationcoreAdministers the Back2Work initiative funding from Caltrans for homeless employment programs.
- REDF (Roberts Enterprise Development Fund)minorPartnership supporting employment social enterprise development.
- Alta HousingcoreHousing provider that worked with DST to house Team Member Mark in a downtown Palo Alto studio apartment. Provided preference status for DST Team Members.
- Santa Clara County RISEcorePartnership for START Building Maintenance program providing building maintenance services to Public Supportive Housing providers.
- JobTrainminorCertification partner for STE employees providing building maintenance services.
- City of Palo AltocoreCore city partner since DST's founding in 2005. Supports Downtown Food Closet program and community services.
- Peninsula Healthcare ConnectionminorHealthcare partner providing services to DST Team Members in Palo Alto.
- LifeMoves Opportunity CenterminorPartner providing services at the Opportunity Services Center in Palo Alto.
- Office of the Public Defender - Kurt Kumli Resource CenterminorPartnership providing legal resources and support for Palo Alto Team Members.
- Second Harvest of Silicon ValleyminorFood bank partnership supporting Palo Alto Food Closet and food security programs.
- Peninsula Food RunnersminorFood rescue organization supporting food security programs for Palo Alto Team Members.
- All Saints Episcopal ChurchcoreHost venue for annual Estelle Chalfin Community Thanksgiving Meal, serving 500+ meals to community members.
- Street Life MinistriesminorPartner supporting Redwood City community programs.
- Trek Bicycle SacramentominorManager RJ Lugo donated seven bikes to launch Sacramento's bicycle-mounted outreach fleet, enabling Case Managers to reach unhoused individuals in out-of-the-way places.
- Swords to PlowsharescoreVeteran's services organization that coordinated with DST and VA to help place Marin Team Member Carl in permanent housing.
- San Francisco Estuary PartnershipminorPartnered on the 'Needs Assessment with People Experiencing Homelessness' report as part of the Disadvantaged Communities and Tribes-led Needs Assessment Report.
- San Francisco VA HospitalcoreHospital that treated Oakland Team Member D'Andre for serious heart condition, enabling subsequent housing placement.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Downtown Streets Team competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Downtown Streets Team social profiles
Digital presenceDowntown Streets Team compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Downtown Streets Team financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Downtown Streets Team leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Downtown Streets Team subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Downtown Streets Team funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Downtown Streets Team M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Downtown Streets Team
What does Downtown Streets Team do?
Downtown Streets Team provides unhoused and low-income adults with volunteer work-experience opportunities cleaning streets, parks, and public spaces, combined with case management, employment services, basic-needs stipends, and pathways to housing. Its employment social enterprise, Streets Team Enterprises, provides paid transitional jobs with wraparound support in partnership with Caltrans, Community Benefit Districts, and transit agencies. Services are delivered free of charge to participants across 16 communities in Northern and Central California.
Is Downtown Streets Team a public or private company?
Downtown Streets Team is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Downtown Streets Team founded?
Downtown Streets Team was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Downtown Streets Team based?
Downtown Streets Team is headquartered in San Jose, United States, in the North America region.
How does Downtown Streets Team make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are government Grants and Contracts, fees from Community Benefit Districts and caltrans Back2Work Program Revenue.
Does Downtown Streets Team have an API?
No public API is recorded for Downtown Streets Team.
What industry is Downtown Streets Team in?
Downtown Streets Team's product category is Homeless and social services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAL, Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services, with a secondary code of BPAGALAC, Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts). Its NAICS code is 62422 and its SIC code is 8300.