Playwright Erik Ehn founded the Tenderloin Opera Company in San Francisco in the hopes of building community among the homeless and their advocates. He transplanted the group to Providence when he moved here, but kept the name honoring the San Francisco neighborhood in which it was founded. Each week, TOC hosts writing workshops for homeless members of the Providence community, their friends, and… advocates at Mathewson St. Church in downtown Providence. Together the TOC authors, writes music, and performs about two operas a year based on stories of homelessness, abuse, addiction, hope, love, and redemption.