San Fransisco · Since 1983
Healing Through Human Connection
Free, trauma-informed massage therapy for people experiencing homelessness and marginalization in San Francisco — meeting them where they are, every week.
We believe that every person, regardless of housing status, deserves safe, dignified, compassionate care.
40 Years of Measurable Impact
A Legacy Built on Presence
60,000+
Trauma-informed massage sessions delivered — moments of calm, dignity, and grounding
1,000+
Licensed therapists trained in trauma-informed care — long before the term went mainstream
9
Active partner sites in 2025 across the Tenderloin, Mission, SoMa, and Bayview Neighborhoods
20+ Years
Longest-standing partnership, providing consistent weekly care where it’s needed most
From compassionate touch to community partnerships, CTI restores dignity and well-being, building a more just, caring, and connected San Francisco.
The Science of Care
Why Touch Matters
Safe, attuned touch is foundational to whole-person wellbeing. For people experiencing homelessness and chronic trauma, it fills a profound gap that other interventions cannot reach.
Regulates the Nervous System
Consensual touch activates the parasympathetic nervous system, lowering cortisol and stress hormones.
Research-backed approach: Trauma-informed bodywork has been shown to reduce PTSD symptoms, improve emotional regulation, and support long-term wellbeing in populations experiencing chronic adversity.
Improves Emotional Wellbeing
Consistent sessions reduce anxiety, ease chronic pain, and support recovery and stability.
Restores Human Connection
For isolated individuals, safe touch can be the only affirming human contact they experience in a week.
Addresses an Unmet Need
Massage therapy for people experiencing homelessness remains a rare, underfunded intervention.
CTI partners with shelters, clinics, harm reduction centers, and community organizations across San Francisco. By embedding our services within trusted sites, we reduce barriers and provide consistent weekly care.
The CTI Model
How Our Care is Delivered
No Barrier Access
We remove every obstacle between a person and care.
Free, clothed 15-minute sessions
No appointment or ID required
Delivered in shelters, clinics, churches, and on the streets
50+ clients served weekly on average
Trauma-Informed Practice
Every interaction is built on safety, consent, and trust.
Client-led consent at every step
Nonjudgmental, culturally responsive care
Practitioners trained in trauma response
Context-informed, on-site training model
Consistent Weekly Presence
Reliability is itself a form of healing.
Licensed massage therapists
Weekly visits at the same sites
Integrated with partner organization services
Long-term relationship-based care
Founded in 1983, Care Through Touch Institute began with a simple act: offering free massage on a Tenderloin sidewalk. Today, we continue to meet people where they are — shelters, clinics, and community spaces — bringing dignity, compassion, and care.
Rooted in Presence.
“For that hour, I felt human again.”
care through touch client
Care Where It’s Needed.
CTI partners with shelters, clinics, harm reduction centers, and community organizations across San Francisco. By embedding our services within trusted sites, we reduce barriers and provide consistent weekly care.
Trauma-informed touch can reduce pain, ease anxiety, improve sleep, and help regulate the nervous system. Just as importantly, it restores dignity and connection.
Each session is offered with consent, respect, and deep awareness. Our practitioners prioritize safety, choice, and autonomy, creating a space where clients can relax their nervous systems, experience relief, and feel seen without pressure or expectation.
meeting people exactly where they are.
“During the massage I began feeling like I exist. i felt connected.”
care through touch client
A Legacy of Care, A Future of Healing
More than 60,000 sessions delivered. Over 1,000 practitioners trained. For many clients, massage is not indulgence — it is relief, grounding, and a reminder of their humanity.
Frequently Asked Questions
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We provide free, trauma-informed massage therapy in partnership with trusted community organizations. Each 15-minute session is grounded in consent, safety, and respect. Our work supports nervous system regulation, reduces pain and stress, and restores dignity through compassionate human connection.
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CTI serves unhoused and marginalized individuals across San Francisco, including people living in shelters, transitional housing, harm reduction programs, and community health sites. Many of our clients face chronic stress, trauma, illness, isolation, and limited access to consistent care.
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CTI partners with shelters, clinics, harm reduction centers, and community-based organizations across San Francisco. By embedding care directly within existing support sites, we reduce barriers and ensure consistent weekly services where they are most needed.
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Licensed massage therapists and bodyworkers can volunteer with CTI after completing our trauma-informed training and orientation process. We prioritize reliability, compassion, and a deep respect for client autonomy. To learn more or apply, visit our Volunteer page.
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We welcome inquiries from potential volunteers, partner sites, funders, and community members. Please reach out through our contact form or email us directly, and a member of our team will respond as soon as possible.