DISH

What DISH does

DISH (Doing It Safely at Home, operating as DISH SF) is a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit permanent supportive housing (PSH) operator founded in September 2006 by Lauren Hall and Doug Gary. It manages 9 residential properties across the Tenderloin, South of Market, and Mission neighborhoods, serving over 800 formerly homeless residents who typically present with chronic health conditions, mental illness, substance use disorders, or disabilities. DISH combines 24/7 on-site property management with voluntary wraparound services including case management (via partners UCSF Citywide, Episcopal Community Services, and Compass Family Services), harm reduction and overdose prevention, food programs, digital literacy, and community-building activities.

The organization's core product is the PSH platform itself — stable, furnished housing paired with voluntary support services under a Housing First philosophy. Resident-facing modules include the Peer Responder overdose prevention program (trained across 30 residents at 7 sites), a Community Advisory Board with two representatives per property, Harm Reduction Services including Brave Buttons devices, and the Wants & Needs Grant Program providing $400 individual grants. The Margot property (added 2022) extends the model to families, served in partnership with Compass Family Services. Property types range from single-occupancy rooms with shared facilities to studio and three-room family apartments.

DISH's business model is a hybrid nonprofit funding structure. The majority of operating revenue comes from government grants and contracts with SF Department of Public Health and HSH, supplemented by rental income from residents (30% of income, processed via Lutheran Social Services) and private donations (the annual DISH BASH event raised $130K in 2024). Residents access housing exclusively through HSH's Coordinated Entry system. The organization became fully independent from Tides Center fiscal sponsorship on July 1, 2025, and is now led by Co-CEOs Lauren Hall and Rahwa Meharena. There are no technology products, AI capabilities, or commercial revenue streams beyond housing services.

Name

DISH

Legal name

DISH SF

Website

https://dishsf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

DISH SF is a San Francisco nonprofit operating 9 permanent supportive housing properties serving 800+ formerly homeless residents with serious health conditions, funded primarily through city government contracts and providing 24/7 on-site services including case management, harm reduction, and community programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Supportive Housing Services

NAICS

Other Residential Care Facilities (6239), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Permanent supportive housing
• Supportive housing services
• Homeless services
• Affordable housing operations
• Community housing programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: DISH's operating budget is mostly comprised of government grants and contracts, primarily from San Francisco Department of Public Health and Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH).
2. Rental Income: Residents pay a portion of their income as rent. Tenants must pay rent through a third party as a condition of subsidized rent, with most working with Lutheran Social Services.
3. Private Contributions: Private donations represent a smaller but critical source of revenue used to fund programs not covered by government grants, such as community building activities, food security programs, and overdose prevention initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DISH provides permanent supportive housing combined with voluntary wraparound services to chronically homeless individuals and families in San Francisco. The organization operates 9 residential properties offering furnished units, 24-hour staff, case management, medical and mental health care coordination through partner organizations, substance use treatment support, and community-building programs for over 800 residents. Housing access is provided exclusively through San Francisco's Coordinated Entry system managed by the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH).

Product overview

DISH is a Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) operator providing a unified housing platform across 9 residential properties in San Francisco. The portfolio includes 8 single-adult properties (The Auburn, The Camelot, The Empress, The Le Nain, The Pacific Bay Inn, The Star, The Windsor, and The Minna Lee) serving approximately 800 formerly homeless individuals, and The Margot which serves both individuals and families. The core housing platform is augmented with resident support modules including Peer Responder Program for overdose prevention, Community Advisory Board for resident governance, Harm Reduction Services, and the Wants & Needs Grant Program. All properties provide 24-hour staffing, case management partnerships with UCSF Citywide, Episcopal Community Services, and Compass Family Services, and access to community development activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Auburn A 70-unit supportive housing property in San Francisco's South of Market District serving single adult veterans via VASH housing vouchers, single adults via Coordinated Entry, and Continuum of Care participants. Features furnished single rooms with shared restrooms and showers, community room, and 24-hour staff.
• The Camelot A 55-unit supportive housing property in San Francisco's Tenderloin District serving single adults. Features furnished single rooms with shared bathrooms and showers, community space, and 24-hour staff.
• The Empress A 90-unit supportive housing property in San Francisco offering furnished private rooms with private or shared bathrooms. Features include free weekly food market, laundry, in-unit cable, 24-hour staff, full-time nurse, and community room.
• The Le Nain An 85-unit supportive housing property for single senior adults (55 and up) featuring furnished single rooms with kitchen appliances and private bathrooms. Includes full-time service director, case managers, part-time nurse, and support services through UCSF Health partnership.
• The Pacific Bay Inn A 75-unit supportive housing property in San Francisco's Upper Tenderloin District offering coin-operated laundry and programs including individual case management, weekly food distribution, and community events.
• The Star

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% housing retention rate
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• UCSF CitywidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCSF Citywide offers intensive outpatient support to individual adults with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance misuse, aiding recovery while reducing hospitalizations, incarcerations, and houselessness. Services include individual and group psychotherapy, service brokerage and linkage, medication management, money management, and crisis intervention. UCSF provides support services at multiple DISH properties including The Le Nain and The Star.
• Episcopal Community Services (ECS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECS provides essential services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in San Francisco using a holistic approach. In the past year, they served more than 13,000 people across four counties. ECS provides support services at The Auburn and The Margot properties.
• Compass Family ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompass Family Services helps homeless families and those at imminent risk achieve housing stability, economic self-sufficiency, and well-being. They provide intake and referral to shelter, emergency shelter, transitional housing, childcare, counseling, parenting education, prevention, and support services. They provide dedicated family support at The Margot.
• Lutheran Social Services (LSS)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMost DISH tenants work with Lutheran Social Services for third-party rent payment processing, which is required by the Department of Public Health as a condition of subsidized rent to address historic high eviction rates in supportive housing due to non-payment.
• The DOPE ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to pilot overdose prevention programs including 'Brave Buttons' - peer-centered overdose detection devices installed in resident rooms. Staff and Peer Overdose Specialists are trained to respond to emergency alerts, educate residents, and disseminate Nasal Naloxone throughout the community.
• Centro Latino de San FranciscocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides prepared hot lunches 5 days a week to residents at The Minna Lee property, addressing food security needs.
• La CocinasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with DISH to provide free meals while supporting local small businesses led primarily by immigrant women of color.
• Healing WellsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides restorative health sessions and wellness workshops at DISH housing sites.
• 18 Reasons (Cooking Matters)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides cooking classes and nutrition education for residents.
• Community Tech NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts digital literacy classes at DISH sites that include a free tablet upon completion of the course, addressing digital equity gaps among residents.
• EngAGEsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with DISH to create dedicated community-building activities promoting creativity and connection, including art classes, distanced walks, and hallway activities during pandemic.
• San Francisco Department of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner providing funding and oversight for supportive housing programs. On-site support services teams are staffed by DPH at several properties.
• San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner managing the Coordinated Entry system through which residents access DISH housing. Partners on property expansion and运营.
• Boeddeker ParkminorOthersCommunity partner providing recreational facilities adjacent to DISH properties.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)minorOthersCommunity partner providing mental health education and support resources.
• Family Giving TreeminorOthersProvides holiday gifts and supplies for DISH residents.
• SFDPH Office of Overdose PreventioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on overdose prevention initiatives and policy advocacy at the city level.
• Simply the BasicsminorOthersProvides hygiene products and basic necessities for residents.
• HandsOn Bay AreaminorOthersVolunteer coordination and engagement partner for community service projects.
• Tenderloin MuseumminorOthersCollaborated on Tenderloin Community Quilt Project workshops.
• CounterPulseminorOthersArts organization that hosted the 'We Are Home' Tenderloin Community Quilt project exhibition.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Community Housing Partnership: San Francisco-based nonprofit providing permanent supportive housing and services to formerly homeless adults — operates multiple PSH sites in SF with a closely aligned Housing First model.
• Episcopal Community Services: San Francisco nonprofit delivering supportive housing, shelter, and homeless services — partners directly with DISH at The Auburn and Margot properties, serving highly overlapping client populations.
• Larkin Street Youth Services: SF nonprofit providing housing and supportive services for homeless and at-risk youth — comparable PSH service model within the same city and Continuum of Care system.
• Hamilton Families: San Francisco nonprofit operating supportive housing and shelter programs for families experiencing homelessness — directly comparable to DISH's family programming at The Margot.
• Compass Family Services: SF nonprofit serving homeless families and those at imminent risk with housing, childcare, and counseling — closely aligned with DISH's family support work at The Margot.
• Glide Foundation: San Francisco nonprofit offering comprehensive services to people experiencing homelessness and poverty, including housing and harm-reduction — comparable breadth of wraparound support services.
• Tenderloin Housing Clinic: SF nonprofit providing supportive housing and tenant services primarily in the Tenderloin — operates in the same neighborhood as most of DISH's portfolio with similar residents.
• Swords to Plowshares: SF-based nonprofit providing supportive housing specifically for veterans — comparable to DISH's veteran-focused programming at The Auburn with VASH vouchers.

Regional players

• Skid Row Housing Trust: Los Angeles-based nonprofit operating permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals — directly comparable PSH operating model in a different California market.
• Brilliant Corners: California nonprofit providing supportive housing for individuals exiting homelessness, including master-leasing and property management — comparable operating model focused on the most vulnerable populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/dishinsf
• Xx.com/dishinsf
• Facebookfacebook.com/dishinsf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DISH