San Francisco, CA – The San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH) and GLIDE today announced the establishment of the Tenderloin Neighborhood Testing Site at GLIDE, a new free COVID-19 testing site in GLIDE’s parking lot adjacent to the entrance at 330 Ellis Street. In an effort to ensure accessible COVID-19 testing for vulnerable communities in the Tenderloin neighborhood, the new pop-up testing site will begin offering walk-through COVID-19 testing on Tuesday, July 7.

The Tenderloin Neighborhood Testing Site at GLIDE will serve some of the City’s most vulnerable populations, including unhoused and underserved residents. By collaborating with community-based organizations that directly serve the neighborhood residents, this site expands the City’s testing outreach and education to the Tenderloin community. The Tenderloin currently has a high rate of positive cases among those who have been tested, with 106.1 positive cases per 10,000 residents. To date, there are 314 positive cases among an estimated 29,588 residents of the neighborhood.

“As we adapt to living with COVID-19 until we have a vaccine, testing continues to be a critical part of our citywide response and will help us slow the spread of the virus in our community,” said Mayor London N. Breed. “Thanks to GLIDE and the Department of Public Health, this new site in the heart of the Tenderloin will make it easier for people to get tested if they are leaving home to go to work or are feeling sick, while also connecting people to resources like food, hygiene kits, and other social services.”

“The Tenderloin has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and establishing this permanent testing site in partnership with community organizations is a critical step in protecting the health of the neighborhood,” said Supervisor Matt Haney.

Last week, the testing site held a pilot to ensure smooth operations before tomorrow’s official launch, effectively testing 26 people. This accomplishment builds on the success of the City’s first mobile testing site, launched in the Tenderloin on May 20, in which the City partnered with Verily, GLIDE, Code Tenderloin, and other community partners over nine days to test more than 1,600 of the neighborhood’s most vulnerable residents. 

“We are excited to bring another testing site into the Tenderloin that offers free, low barrier access, and culturally competent testing services,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, Director of Health. “This testing expansion is possible thanks to our partnership with GLIDE and other community providers to prioritize the safety of vulnerable community members. We are determined to create a familiar and welcoming presence at the testing site for everyone in the neighborhood, in addition to raising awareness about the resources and services offered on site, and the importance of contact tracing for those who test positive.”

“We are pleased to partner with the City of San Francisco to provide COVID-19 testing at GLIDE for the most marginalized in our City,” said Karen Hanrahan, President and CEO of GLIDE. “We will lean on our trusted relationships with community partners to make sure the homeless and hardest to reach can access testing, obtain their test results and receive the care they need. During this global pandemic, GLIDE will continue to expand our services and do whatever we can to enhance the health, dignity, and protection of the most marginalized – in the Tenderloin and throughout San Francisco.”
 
Testing at the site will take place on Tuesdays from 10:00AM to 4:00PM, and people can sign up in advance. GLIDE will have staff at the lobby of 330 Ellis Street, ready to register community members on Thursdays and Fridays from 10:00AM to 4:00PM, with the goal of moving toward same-day registration in the near future. Residents will be registered for testing on a Tuesday of their choice without a specific appointment time. The testing site is also working to add a second day of testing per week.

DPH will administer the tests, providing test results by phone, and conducting contact tracing and offering social services if test results are positive. For those who do not have phones, GLIDE will assist with lowering barriers by connecting the person with access to their test results and contact tracing interviews. Contact tracing is an essential component of follow up for positive test results, and participants will be informed about the importance of working with contact tracers to slow the spread of the virus.

GLIDE is a nationally recognized center for social justice dedicated to fighting systemic injustices, creating pathways out of poverty and crisis, and transforming lives. In addition to supporting the testing operation, GLIDE’s integrated comprehensive services, advocacy initiatives, and inclusiveness empower individuals, families, and children to achieve stability and thrive. GLIDE is on the forefront of addressing some of the most pressing issues including poverty, housing insecurity, mental and physical health, drug use disorder, and food insecurity.

Joining this effort are trusted community partners, Code Tenderloin, Coalition on Homelessness, Tenderloin Community Benefit District and St. Anthony’s that are helping raise awareness about the site and connecting people to other services. Code Tenderloin will also be handing out masks on the testing site for those who need it.

To learn more about GLIDE, visit https://www.glide.org/. For more information about the operations of Tenderloin Neighborhood Testing Site at GLIDE, visit sf.gov/gettestedsf.

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NOTE TO EDITORS ABOUT GLIDE:
GLIDE is the correct name for the organization at 330 Ellis Street that organizes and provides the Daily Free Meals and other GLIDE social services programs. The church, historically called Glide Memorial Church, is one of several programs operated by GLIDE. When referring to GLIDE social services and programs, please use the correct name, GLIDE Foundation, or simply GLIDE, rather than the historical name of the church.