Original source: "Mayor Newsom Announces Initiative to Increase Community College Graduation Rates and Retention"

10/07/09 - Mayor Newsom and Chancellor Don Griffin today announced that Single Stop USA is launching the first phase of a system-wide expansion in San Francisco and is opening sites in three City College campuses by the end of 2009. Single Stop USA, a national not-for-profit organization, aims to reduce poverty by helping individuals and families access billions of dollars in public benefits and resources.

"College education is the pathway out of poverty," said Mayor Gavin Newsom. "Single Stop’s groundbreaking partnership with City College will transform the lives of thousands of students by enabling them to complete their college education."

Each year, at least $65 billion in government resources to help struggling families go unclaimed - $3 billion in California alone and $300 million just in San Francisco. By building a bridge between these untapped resources and those in need, Single Stop helps families move from dependency to self-sufficiency. Using a groundbreaking technology platform, Single Stop counselors identify eligible benefits for clients, then guide them through the applications and connect them to onsite financial counseling, legal assistance and free tax preparation services.

Community colleges are one of the most effective vehicles for lifting people out of poverty. Unfortunately, financial and life barriers prevent most students from graduating. "Single Stop can change that," says CEO Elisabeth Mason. "Integrating the Single Stop model into community colleges harnesses two of the most effective antipoverty tools: a post-high school education and coordinated access to America's vastly underutilized safety net."

Mayor Newsom, City College of San Francisco and Tipping Point Community announced the partnership to bring Single Stop USA to San Francisco at City College’s South East campus. For more information, visit: http://www.singlestopusa.org

Single Stop Bay Area sites: City College of San Francisco Ocean Campus, Communities of Opportunity in partnership with City College of San Francisco Southeast Campus, Healthy Oakland, Homeless Prenatal Program, and Wu Yee Children’s Services. Single Stop Bay Area service providers: Mission SF Community Financial Center, Bay Area Legal Aid, and Financial Coaching Volunteers from Charles Schwab. Single Stop Bay Area is sponsored by Speaker Pelosi, Tipping Point Community, Charles Schwab Foundation, Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation, AIG, The Mimi and Peter Haas Fund, Mayor Gavin Newsom, the City of San Francisco and Atlantic Philanthropies.