baths); one of the lowest values for the median number of years of formal education of its residents. In short, it became obvious that this was the most, severly impoverished section of the city and yet it had been ignored by the War on Poverty program. It seemed that the residents of this area displayed behavoir which was so extreme as a result of their socially and economically impoverished condition that even the humanitarian anti-poverty program felt obliged to ignore them and their problems. Federal policies against homosexuals played no small part in this since one of the most obvious, if not the most pressing social problem in the Tenderloin area was that of male prostitution and young persons with severly confused sexual identity.

This delineation of the problem was clearly a concern of the Mattachine Society, and any solution of it would be a fulfillment of Mattachine goals. With this in mind, Mattachine officers in late February became involved with the effort in the Central City to mobilize people and resources to bring about designation of the district as a "Target Area in the War on Poverty." By now, interested citizens and representatives from various public service agencies and churches in both the North and South of Market Street districts of the city were organizing to achieve this designation from the local Office of Economic Opportunity. Mattachine leaders were deeply involved and committed to the effort of seeking solutions to the problems posed by these "outcasts" the alienated youth, the rejected of all ages, and the abandoned elderly people.

Over strong opposition from the already established poverty areas in San Francisco, the Central district groups (including organizations such as the Central City Citizens Council, The Tenderloin Committee and the Tenderloin Citizens Committee) did achieve designation for the Central City as a target area in May from the Economic Opportunity Council. Voted to the district was $124, 000 to be used in staff and mobilization that would permit approved service programs for the people to go into effect at the earliest funding date.

By no means was this effort a homosexual thrust in itself. But to the hundreds of residents, professional representatives, public officials, clergymen and representatives from the many service agencies involved, it was no secret that homophiles were instrumental in all that was being done. Further, it was evident that the alienated homosexual adult, the male and female prostitute, the pill-popper with vague sexual identity, and young men and women who often engaged in sexual free-for-alls with resultant unwanted pregnancies and illegal abortions were involved among the many others on a "sabbatical from responsibility" in this Central City. Most were unemployed; and many of them were enemployable. With this knowledge, it was also no secret that much of the impetus and support for action was coming essentially from two sources: From leaders of the Urban Center of the Glide (Methodist) Foundation on the one

hand, and from leaders of the Mattachine Society on the other. True enough, these represented only a few of the many dedicated and hare-working persons (people who had worked to organize other target areas and had some experience with OEO procedures; residents and social workers in the area; doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, staff representatives from the Welfare office, public health department, and so on) who did the total task, but the Glide Mattachine setup of staff and resources was thrown almost "en toto" into the job of bringing together concerned persons and of getting official target arca designation the only way to bring Federal funds and other grants into the area to provide services and facilities for all in need. Among the helps needed to achieve this designation, for instance, was extensive secretarial work, typing, duplicating, printing, mailing and so on. Mattachine alone contributed two almost full-time qualified staff personell and almost $2,500 in printing and materials to the effort. This, combined with the articulate leadership of a man experienced in community organization, and those who had studied conditions of the Tenderloin and the Central City, and others, DID achieve the goal of designation from which all Anti-Poverty programprojects in the Central, City of San Francisco will emanate.

What was achieved was significant but not unique. However, the effort in concert of Mattachine leaders and resources, along with leadership and work by many others (including other known homophiles) WAS unique: It marks to our knowledge the first time such an outward thrust into the total community has been made by an organization in the homophile community;

This involvement by Mattachine's leadership has only begun. The future work to bring the actual benefits to residents of the Central City (a great many, but not all, of whom are homoi sexuals) will require continued involvement of Mattachine's leadershop alongside many, many other people who see the need and want to help solve the problems.

Already written, are several program proposals which will be, it is hoped, approved for funding before next January 15th. They include a program to bring emotional helps to alienated young adults who want it in the Central City; a Community Center with medical, social, educational, recreational, residential and other facilities; a continuing program of training in a proposed graphic arts school and production facility to qualify some residents and Job Corps trainees with job skills and opportunities; and other projects for persons of all ages and situations of need, keyed to providing services and employment opportunities. None of this is couched in terms of dole or handout. Instead it is a complex but correlated and expanding set of project proposals for self-help toward personal betterment on many levels which will eventually enable the individuals involved to make a more significant contribution to our society and to carry less of a burden of pain and guilt as a result of rejection by our society.