Our History

During the late 1990s, spurred on by the Dot Com Boom, many parts of San Francisco were reeling from rapid gentrification. SOMA, one of the last affordable neighborhoods in the City, suddenly became unaffordable. Many small businesses, non-profits, immigrants, working-class residents and families that have called SOMA home since the early 1900s, were suddenly facing displacement.

In 2000, SOMCAN was formed by community leaders from youth, senior, veteran, Filipino, and housing organizations to address gentrification and displacement issues.

members of the somcan community overlooking an aerial map of the SOMA neighborhood

Established in 2000, SOMCAN is a multi-issue and multi-strategy organization that nurtures the lives of youth, families, individuals and workers. We work on a wide range of issues—from tenant rights to community planning to Filipino language access to workers rights—and provide culturally competent direct services ranging from tenant counseling to family support to youth empowerment to employment.

SOMCAN believes in uplifting the voices of immigrant, people-of-color, and low-income communities, so they will be heard in local policy-making decisions and so civic offices are accountable to their needs.

SOMCAN community walking in a parade near a state building

Our Staff

Trusted Consultants