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The Portola Neighborhood: The Portola neighborhood is home to approximately 11,000 predominately low-income individuals. A recent immigration boom, begun during the 1980's, has brought many new Asian and Latino families to the community making the Portola neighborhood one of San Francisco's most diverse neighborhoods. Today neighborhood statistics show: 54% Asian, 20% Latino, 11% other, 6% White, 5% two or more races, and 4% African American. Fifty-five percent (55%) of community members are immigrants and 69% speaks a first language other than English. Additionally, 37% of the population over 25 years of age in the Portola did not graduate from high school. The cost of living for working families in San Francisco has also increased by 70% in the past 10 years. According to the 2006 study by the Mayor’s Policy Council on Children Youth and Families, the annual self-sufficiency wage needed for a family of four living in San Francisco is $69,158. Seventy-percent (70%) of families served by Family Connections report an income under $50,000; 25% of Portola households have an annual income of $35,000 or below (the poverty rate for a household of three in San Francisco is $35,100); and 12% live on less than $20,000.

Additionally, Social Services only make-up 1.5% of Portola establishments, compared with 19% for San Francisco as a whole; this disparity is magnified for our immigrant community that especially needs neighborhood-based child development programs. Until the creation of Portola Family Connections, there were no other family resource centers in the community; we are also the only non-profit organization in the neighborhood.