Compass Family Services was established in 1914 under the name Travelers' Aid San Francisco to assist newcomers who were drawn to the city by the spectacle of the 1915 World's Fair. By the time it became Compass Family Services in 1995, its mission had evolved drastically to fit the city's changing needs. In that 80-year period, it had provided social services to refugees, military personnel, and transient adults. In the 1980s, it began focusing on homeless families and sought to help them attain stability, a mission that continues today.
Compass's six primary programs support more than 3,000 parents and children every year with a comprehensive array of services. Compass Connecting Point, Family Shelter, and Clara House provide people with places to live ranging from overnight stays to two-year transitional housing. Compass SF Home helps people stay in their houses with rent subsidies; the Compass Children's Center organizes child development and educational activities; and the Compass Family Resource Center works with both parents and children to ensure they maintain a strong bond and healthy relationship.
