THC circulated a flyer announcing our grand opening in 1980. The feature photo depicts a tenant holding a sign that reads “I live on Social Security and can’t afford an increase. Will the landlord evict me, too?”
Category: THC's Early Years
THC was founded by Hastings Law School students, including now-Executive Director Randy Shaw. We opened on February 1, 1980, in a 70 sq. ft. office at GLIDE. We were an all-volunteer operation. Our rent and office expenses were covered by small foundation grants and allocations from Hastings’ student groups. By 1982 we essentially ran out of money to pay rent and were offered a free space previously used as a storage room at the North of Market Planning Coalition at 295 Eddy Street. Randy Shaw secured a Berkeley Law Foundation grant that enabled him to start as THC’s first fulltime employee in September 1982. A combination of CDBG grants and lawsuit revenue kept THC solvent for many years.
Housing clinic gives new lease on life
Hastings Law News covers the opening of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, founded by Hastings Law students. The legal services highlighted in this 1980 article are still offered by THC today!
1980 Budget
A glimpse at THC’s early operating costs.
Being Evicted? Call THC!
Early promotional flyer for Tenderloin Housing Clinic services.
Proposal for First Full-Time Attorney
THC’s early success in advocating for tenant rights led founder Randy Shaw to seek funding for a full-time attorney, to increase THC’s power to defend tenants. This proposal excerpt, submitted in 1981, began THC’s first expansion of organization staffing.
NLAF’s Support for THC Proposal
The Neighborhood Legal Assistance Foundation was often relied upon by early THC volunteers to support tenants with legal representation. Their support of THC’s proposal for a full-time attorney helped THC secure the funding needed to provide our own legal representation to tenants.
Gray Panthers Letter of Support
The Director of the Gray Panthers pens a letter to the Berkeley Law Foundation in support of THC’s campaign to hire a full-time attorney.
THC Anti-Displacement Project Funded
As a recent UC Hastings graduate, Randy Shaw received funding from the Berkeley Law Foundation (BLF) for the Anti-Displacement Project, a program of the newly formed Tenderloin Housing Clinic.
Current Grantee News
THC’s Anti-Displacement Project receives a one-time $15,000 grant from the Berkeley Law Foundation (BLF) to provide support to low-income residents in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood.
Lower Your Rent!
Early THC flyer notifying tenants of their housing rights and offering support for those facing unsafe or unsanitary living conditions.