ECS Skills Center In California, two million native English speakers are functionally illiterate, meaning that they are not able to read, write or communicate in English at levels sufficient for most jobs and the society at large. (National Adult Literacy Survey) Levels of illiteracy and functional illiteracy are higher among homeless populations. With over 17 years experience, the Skills Center specializes in providing a stable, caring and individualized learning environment for students who are coping with the inter-related challenges of homelessness, illiteracy, learning disabilities, substance abuse, and mental health issues. While created particularly for homeless adults and those formerly homeless adults living in supportive housing, the Skills Center is open to all low-income individuals in San Francisco who would like to further develop their academic skills or need job counseling, training and placement. ECS Skills Center Classes Vocational Training CHEFS Program