The Mission Behind TODCO’s Resident Services and Activities Program (RSAP): Making an Impact by Building a True Resident Community

May 1st, 2024

It all started back in 1985 when TODCO established the Resident Services and Activities Program, otherwise known as RSAP, shortly after opening our first building in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood. TODCO kicked off this program by starting small with a weekday lunch program provided by the Salvation Army Senior Meals Program to provide a quality daily meal for residents. This set up the building blocks to the foundation that has allowed us the capability to expand our program to what it is today. The TODCO Resident Services and Activities Program now provides a wide range of services, general and specialized programs as well as activities including social, recreational, physical, cultural, health, nutrition, trips, cognitive health, and educational programs.

The why behind our Resident Services and Activities Program (RSAP) is focused on a holistic approach to providing affordable housing here in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood. We know that quality of life involves more than just a roof over someone’s head, and although that is one pivotal aspect it is not the whole equation. There are other key human components that go into an individual’s experience and enjoyment of life. With this in mind, we lead with community and human connection through many of our services to assist our residences in living a fulfilling life rooted at each of our buildings. Our why stays the same with different strategies to best serve each of our residents from those living in our elderly communities to those living in our SRO units. At the end of the day our Resident Services and Activities Program is meant to serve our communities and to be a resource for our residents in their journey to a prosperous life at each of TODCO’s eight affordable housing buildings here in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood.

Currently our Resident Services and Activities Program provides a wide range of services and activities such as holiday specific celebrations, birthday celebrations, anniversary celebrations, community meals, exercise classes, technology training classes, arts and crafts, music classes, movie screenings, games, field trips, and nutrition programs -- just to name a few. Our team works diligently to tailor these services and activities to our residents based on needs, the holiday calendar and relevant events, attractions and amenities present in San Francisco. Monthly calendars are posted at each residence, as well as emailed out to our resident list, for our community to stay in the know with the services and activities provided on a month-to-month basis. General information regarding the services, programs, and activities that we offer through RSAP to our residents can also be found through our public Resident Services web page.

As an example, during the month of March RSAP put on our yearly Cross-Building Easter Eggstravaganza where our residents were able to participate in a cross-building Easter egg hunt adventure. Residents were able to keep track of their findings with their very own Easter themed TODCO passport which would get stamped along the way to unlock prizes. There were also games, treats and much more for our residents to enjoy during this annual spring event. This is just one of the many seasonal events put on by RSAP that brings our residents together. The entire TODCO family also comes together to celebrate and enjoy our community with these special events throughout the year. As weather permits residents are encouraged to walk around our local neighborhood after such festivities to enjoy everything San Francisco’s South of Market has to offer including some of that bay area sunshine.

At TODCO, we believe that a little help goes a long way, especially when it comes to our cherished residents. That’s why our on-site staff is always on their toes, ready to assist with housing stabilization and retention, ensuring our senior services, disabled, and SRO buildings feel more like a home than just a place to stay. Our social work team is equipped to handle service coordination, community outreach, case management, advocacy, and much more. They’re the bridge connecting residents to a plethora of community service providers and programs. But it’s not all paperwork and referrals; we also offer a shoulder to lean on with individual and group counseling to tackle those psych-social and emotional issues (especially anxiety, stress, and depression) that may impact overall health and functioning. And let’s not forget our monthly social service workshops, where knowledge and information are shared by speakers from various community programs, discussing everything from life care planning to the art of aging gracefully.

Now, let’s talk health and wellness, because at TODCO, we’re all about promoting a life of zest and vitality! Some of our residents are aging in place, and we’re here to ensure they do so with the utmost quality. With a population as diverse as ours, we’ve got multilingual staff to ensure no one misses a beat—or a doctor’s appointment, for that matter. Speaking of which, we noticed we could do more to make healthcare more accessible to our residents. So, we partnered with health institutions (San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco State University School of Nursing and the University of Pacific School of Pharmacy and Dentistry) to bring on-site health screenings, vaccine clinics, and even drop-in blood pressure checks right to their doorstep. And because knowledge is power, we host health presentations on topics like diabetes management and stroke prevention. Plus, for those aspiring healthcare heroes out there, TODCO is proud to be a teaching site for RN students doing their community clinical rotation in collaboration with the local schools of Nursing as well as a site to supervise social work (MSW and BSW) interns in collaboration with schools of Social Work.

The key component to an effective Resident Services and Activities Program is to build a thriving community across each of our eight residences. As a result, we can positively affect those living in our residences and in turn also positively affect our SoMa neighborhood, as well as play our part in making a difference in the city of San Francisco. TODCO is here to provide affordable housing and build a thriving neighborhood in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood, which we have been doing since 1971. Assuring that the poor, disadvantaged, and working people of South of Market – elders, hotel residents, homeless, immigrants, and families – will always be an integral part of their neighborhood’s future, always benefited rather than displaced by renewal.

Stay tuned as we make some exciting improvements and additions to our activities program. Our seniors are also leaders, givers, and doers in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood. We are excited to share more information and updates in the coming months!