“I volunteer at HRC not only because it keeps tenants in their homes, but because it empowers tenants to learn their rights. ” -HRCSF volunteer
Like all grassroots organizations, Housing Rights Committee depends on volunteers to provide our many services available to San Francisco tenants. Tenants rights counselors do one of the most important jobs: advising clients who walk in the door or call for help.
Tenant problems range from illegal rent increases and evictions, to lack of repairs and non-return of security deposits. We do not provide legal counsel, so you don’t have to be a lawyer to be a counselor. Volunteer counselors are trained during our counseling hours. They are given a handbook to help them learn about tenants rights protections available to SF renters. A volunteer counselor can work from one to four shifts. Each shift is four hours. We also welcome students who want to do internships.
If you don’t want to be a counselor, but want to help with the counseling program, you can be a receptionist, a job that includes answering phones and instructing people on the intake process when they drop in. Or volunteers can help by doing office work, including filing, data entry, phone calls, and more.
Without our volunteers, we could not help almost 5,000 people a year.
If you’re interested in volunteering and being part of our exciting volunteer team, call Tommi or Stephanie at 415-703-8634 or email us at tmecca@hrcsf.org.
John, a counselor who’s been with us for over 20 years
Gary, one of our regular data entry volunteers