The Waller Center occupies the southeast corner of Waller and Belvedere Streets in San Francisco, one block south of the iconic Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. We are surrounded by parks on every side, and serviced by the MUNI light rail and 5 bus lines, offering speedy access to all corners of our beautiful city. While you are staying with us, please take time to explore!
San Francisco provides not just a beautiful setting for visiting non-profits but an exceptional context in which one can examine issues of social justice. The city has long been an important nexus of social justice movements, including movements around lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) concerns, environmentalism, and affordable housing. San Francisco’s diverse population includes Immigrants from all around the world as well as a several thousand residents who live on the streets.
Click here for directions to the Waller Center.
The following areas on our first floor are available for overnight groups:
The following spaces are available for community use:
Dormitories and Showers
Originally designed to house an emergency shelter, the Waller Center’s dormitories may host up to 50 people overnight from non-profit groups doing charitable work in the city. The dorms provide low-cost, safe, private, and handicap accessible accommodations on a separate level from the building’s community meeting spaces. A minimum of one set of keys will be distributed to each group to allow independent access to the building.
- Bunk beds are available for the first 20 overnight guests.
- Additional guests may sleep on our 25 Cabela’s cots.
- 2 twin beds are available
- 1 full bed is available.
- Visitors must bring their own towels, pillows, and bedding to place on top of the mattresses and cots (many groups bring sleeping bags).
- Groups have access to 4 shower stalls located in the dormitory level restrooms.
- Storage lockers are available for visitors who bring their own locks.
When more than one group is present, the site coordinator reserves the right to determine which user groups have access to which bedrooms.
Other meeting rooms may be available to dormitory groups when community events are not taking place.
Kitchens & Dining Room
Our full-scale, industrial kitchen is available for overnight group and community use. It comes equipped pots/pans, cooking utensils, a microwave, coffee maker, dishwasher, and table settings to serve up to 50 people. The adjoining dining room is included with kitchen reservations, and it seats up to 50 people.
Overnight groups may have to share kitchen access with other building users. When multiple groups are present, trip leaders must coordinate meal times with the Site Coordinator.
Chapel/Performance Hall
Built in 1908 as the sanctuary of Hamilton Methodist Episcopal Church, the Waller Center’s chapel seats up to 132 persons on the former church’s wooden pews. Our chapel is open as a wedding venue to celebrants from any faith tradition. The chapel may also function as a worship space, performance hall, or assembly hall.
Gymnasium/Banquet Hall
Added to the original church building in 1923, our gymnasium is available for recreational purposes, or it may hold up to 200 persons for gatherings or banquets.
- 30 folding chairs are available
- Gym equipment is not provided
Meeting Rooms
Our large meeting room seats 20-30 people and has an attached restroom.
Our small group room seats 10-15 people, is wheelchair-accessible, and near an ADA-compliant restroom.
