Affordable Housing Initiative News

AHI Dashboard

Year-to-Date Totals

Applications: 75
Approved: 29
Pending: 6

Landlord Donations:
Over $421,000

Participating Landlords

ABL Properties
AvalonBay Communities
Casco Property Management
Essex Property Trust
Fairfield Residential
IEC
Pacific Urban Residential

 

Prometheus
Raintree Partners
Rutherford Investment
Sares-Regis
Sequoia Equities
Strom Properties
Windy Hill Property Ventures

HIF Strengthens Lease Agreement

In response to the on-going market tension that rent control issues continue to produce and with the support of Pahl & McCay, HIF has strengthened our Lease Agreement between the tenant applicant and HIF.
We are now the full lessee on all Affordable Housing Initiative (AHI) placements and all rent support for the applicants comes directly from HIF (via a donation from the landlords), clearly stating that landlords reserve the right to adjust rent outside of their participation in this program. The rental discount is only available through HIF, only while tenants are successful participants in this program.

AvalonBay and Prometheus help strengthen AHI!

AvalonBay Communities and Prometheus have helped change the lives of two AHI applicants, Lauren and Janelle, as we expand our program reach into Mountainview, San Mateo and Santa Clara. HIF is also garnering the support of Mayor Matichak and the City Council as we work with the city to assist with displaced tenant relocation efforts.

Second Year Support

ABL Properties, Casco Properties, Raintree Partners, Sequoia Equities, Strom Properties and Windy Hill Property Ventures have approved a second year for our first AHI program applicants!
Thank you Casco, Raintree, Sequoia, Strom & Windy Hill for your continued support!
“Thank you HIF for seeing potential and ambition in us and accepting us into the Housing Program. Because of you, two days after my son’s 4th birthday, he came home and sat on his own bed, ate dinner at his own table, sat and watched a movie with his mom and dad on his own couch…it was the best most rewarding feeling ever. Thank you all!”

– Keshia and Cardell Harris

Community Impact:

Keshia & Cardell Harris
Two years ago, Keshia & Cardell decided to escape the poverty and crime of the Baltimore neighborhood where they were raising their two year old son. They were motivated to come to the Bay Area in large part because of the research they did on the local schools in San Mateo. So they secured two full-time jobs and made the plunge.
Soon after arriving, the reality of the housing crisis forced them to consider something they thought they never would do – move to a shelter for homeless families and began to rebuild their lives. “It was very hard to even accept the fact that we were homeless, that we were living with our son in a shelter” said Keshia Harris. “We also kept getting denied for public benefits because we were making too much money, but not enough for an apartment.” That’s when they found longtime HIF agency grant and renovation recipient, LifeMoves Shelter Network. “The team at LifeMoves helped us get our lives and finances back on track while we continued to look for housing.”
The Harris family were referred to HIF’s Affordable Housing Initiative with the support of AvalonBay Communities, and moved into their new apartment in Daly City on 8/29. When HIF learned that they had no furniture and were sleeping on the floor, we put the word out to our long-time board member, Brook Furniture, asking if they could donate a few beds. Louie Huerta, Senior Area Sales Director at Brook, wrote back: “We are going to furnish the entire apartment.” Let us share this wonderful moment of impact that you and our network have helped to create:

Community Impact:

Janelle

Janelle lost her parents at the age of 23 and also divorced in the same year. For the last two years, she has worked two jobs/seven days a week in the nonprofit sector.  On a single income with no family or financial support, Janelle was spending over 50% of her income on rent every month.

On 1/31/20, thanks to HIF Board Member Kellie Meier of Prometheus, Janelle moved into a new, affordable apartment at Chesapeake Point in San Mateo.

“I really want to continue to help the families we serve in my community, however [without HIF’s Affordable Housing Initiative] I wouldn’t be able to continue to reside in San Mateo County or stay in my current job/career path. I love my new place! Thank you so much for believing in me. I am so thankful to have learned about this program!”

Community Impact:

Lauren

Lauren, her 6-year-old son Kayden and her mother Saundra moved to Los Angeles in 2017 to flee domestic violence. While in LA, she received news that she had been accepted into a fellowship at Stanford Family Medicine. Saundra is employed as a teacher in Fremont. Thanks to HIF and Prometheus, Lauren and her family moved into their new apartment at Monticello in Santa Clara, reducing their commute by over an hour and saving over $1,200 per month in rent.

“The Affordable Housing program at HIF has been instrumental in supporting me and my family’s transition from a family shelter to permanent housing. My mother and I can raise my 7 year old son in a nurturing and safe environment! HFA is proof that organizations are working hard to build strong communities by addressing the housing crisis in California. I plan to continue pursuing my career goal of becoming a family physician in academic medicine. Thank you for helping me regain faith and hope for a future I plan to give my family. Thank you HIF/HFA staff and supporters, including the many donors that have dreamed of making others wishes come true.”

AHI Videos

Please check out our 30th Anniversary Gala Summit Video that highlights the Housing program that you support:

Steve Sullivan,
HIF Executive Director discusses the Affordable Housing Initiative

Joel Rubnitz,
ABL Properties President and AHI Supporter