Dear Friends,
As I write this final email of 2021, I can’t help but reflect on the past 12 months—its challenges and triumphs, its ups and downs. We continued to contend with a pandemic whose twists and turns had us constantly adapting our thinking and adjusting our game plan to provide critically important programming to the low- and moderate-income San Franciscans that are our clients, residents, friends, and supporters. We saw and felt street violence that robbed families of loved ones in the neighborhoods we serve. We watched deeply partisan politics thwart economic and social progress on a national level and lend more uncertainty to the work we do and to the people we serve.
But, despite all of this, and because of all this, SFHDC staff and board members did not shy away from stepping in and stepping up:
- Our amazing Resident Services team never stopped providing on-site support, community-building, and life-changing programming for the 2,000 residents whom we are honored to serve at eight sites across the City.
- Our rock star Financial Empowerment Center staff offered engaging webinars and virtual counseling sessions to over 1,500 clients who are working on debt reduction, savings enhancement, credit improvement, and reaching their housing and financial goals.
- Our stellar Real Estate Development crew completed two beautiful affordable housing projects serving over 400 residents and continued progress on four more projects totaling 360 affordable units.
- Our nascent but already fantastic Economic Development team launched a small business technical assistance hub in the Fillmore that is helping several dozen entrepreneurs and legacy businesses (thanks to Dream Keeper funding through OEWD and the Human Rights Commission) to launch or expand their enterprises.
Over the past year, we are proud to have impacted and empowered 5,000 San Franciscans who are improving their own lives, and we are grateful for so many funders, donors, partners, and friends that provided the financial, technical and moral support to make sure we did our part. The year ahead assuredly will present new challenges, and I am confident that SFHDC will rise to the occasion once again, advocating for what is right and advancing equity in all our efforts.
From our entire organization, we wish you a wonderful, healthy, and prosperous holiday season. If you are able, we humbly ask that you think of SFHDC when deciding on year-end contributions to the organizations you admire. Indeed, every little bit helps.
Peace and Blessings,
David
