Economic Security

Financial empowerment and independence have been the greatest drivers of gender equity around the world. The ability to financially care for oneself is crucial in combatting a host of issues where gender disparity is jarring. The road to financial security and freedom is paved through education, but more importantly access - access to capital, access to networks and access to opportunities. Certainly, entrepreneurship, ingenuity and grit play vital roles in generating wealth, but we cannot expect to end systems of oppressions without actively taking strides to overcome the inert structures holding women, girls and
nonbinary people back from equal economic opportunity. 

With this in mind, the Department has expanded its focus to include services that support financial stability, security and mobility around jobs and employment, housing, financial literacy, subsidized childcare, paid family and dependent leave, saving and investing, entrepreneurship and other avenues to economic success.

DOSW continues to successfully secure and administer competitive external grants to support the buildout of our economic security portfolio. With funds from Blue Shield, coupled with an investment from the Department’s general fund resources, we launched a micro grant program to study the impact of access to capital for women who have experienced domestic violence. The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls has also provided funding to the Department to support our efforts for guaranteed income pilot programs aimed at supporting justice impacted women, as well as those from our Indigenous community. 

Housing stability is foundational for achieving economic security. To that end, DOSW has partnered with the California Consortium of Urban Indian Health, as well as the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice - Cameo House, one of San Francisco’s legendary diversion and housing programs for formerly incarcerated and/ or homeless mothers – to expand opportunities for some of San Francisco’s most vulnerable people. As we expand strategic partnerships inside and outside the City, we will continue to listen to the community about what they most need and how we can help.

In the coming years, the Department will further ideate and innovate solutions to improve economic security, including working with banks and other financial institutions to provide services like micro-lending, small business grants and student loan/ debt forgiveness programs.