Dream Keeper Fellowship
The Dream Keeper Fellowship was a guaranteed-income pilot launched October 2021 under San Francisco's Dream Keeper Initiative, run by the SF Human Rights Commission with the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. It paid individuals identified as high-risk for gun violence a $300 monthly stipend, plus up to $200 more for hitting milestones like job interviews or probation compliance. Participants were paired with life coaches from the Street Violence Intervention Program (SVIP). Modeled on Richmond's Operation Peacemaker Fellowship and funded through city tax dollars and private donations.
Guaranteed Income, Violence Intervention, Reentry, African American, San Francisco, Community Ambassadors
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- San Francisco Human Rights Commission (Dream Keeper Initiative), in partnership with the SF Office of Economic and Workforce Development
- City
- San Francisco
- State / Province
- California
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Phone
- +1 415 252 2500
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 40
- Funding type
- Government, Philanthropic
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 12,000 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 500 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 24 months
- Distribution Type
- Reloadable gift card
- Benefit details
Participants received a $300 monthly base stipend, plus up to $200 more for milestones (job interview, probation compliance, mentor meetings), for a possible max of $500/month. Funds on tracked, reloadable gift cards, no spending restrictions. Modeled on Richmond's Operation Peacemaker Fellowship, linked to large local gun-violence reductions.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Targeted individuals identified as high-risk for gun-violence involvement in San Francisco, often on parole/probation with prior arrests and typically lacking steady income. Candidates identified largely through SVIP rather than open recruitment. Sits within the broader Dream Keeper Initiative (African-American community focus), though Fellowship-specific materials frame eligibility around violence risk.
Demographics
- Race / ethnicity targets
- African American / Black communities (per the overarching Dream Keeper Initiative mission), Fellowship-specific sourcing frames eligibility around violence risk rather than an explicit race criterion
Financial
- Employment status
- Unemployed
Justice
- Justice involvement status
- On Parole, On Probation
Geography
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- San Francisco
- Counties covered
- San Francisco
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Complementary program enrollment required
- Street Violence Intervention Program (SVIP) life coaching (mandatory pairing)
Application Process
- How to apply
No public self-service application documented. Candidates identified and referred primarily through SVIP; officials described an interview, referral, and assessment process before acceptance.
- Selection process
SF Human Rights Commission and SVIP staff vetted candidates identified as high-risk for gun-violence involvement through interviews, referrals, and assessments. Accepted fellows paired with an SVIP life coach.
