Healing Through Human Connection
Free, trauma-informed massage for San Francisco’s unhoused and marginalized communities.
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 over 40 years, CTI has brought healing touch directly into community spaces. Because everyone deserves to feel safe in their own body.
Compassion in Action
From compassionate touch to community partnerships, CTI restores dignity and well-being, building a more just, caring, and connected San Francisco.
“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.
meeting people exactly where they are.
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.
“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.