In late August 2024, Nora, a devoted mother, received the heartbreaking news that she had cancer. As she began her treatment and applied for disability benefits, the financial strain on her family grew. Unfortunately, the approval process for disability has been slow, leaving her daughter, Betty, to shoulder the entire financial burden. With mounting bills and rent payments falling behind, their family faced the very real possibility of eviction.
Julianne is a dedicated middle school English teacher who was born and raised in San Jose. Passionate about teaching in the community she loves, she faced a significant challenge: the high cost of living in the area. With the majority of her income going towards rent, she struggled to afford groceries and teaching expenses. Faced with the possibility of moving to Bend Oregon with her parents to save money, Julianne would have had to leave both her home and her students behind. Fortunately, her colleague referred her to HIF’s Affordable Housing Initiative.
HIF and Corporate Champion ESSEX Property Trust completed a renovation project at TURN Behavioral, a nonprofit organization that provides crucial mental health support, substance abuse counseling, and transitional housing for individuals at risk of homelessness. The facility, like many transitional shelters, has endured significant wear and tear and we've made tremendous progress in improving this space.
HomeFirst is a nonprofit organization working passionately to end homelessness. They are the largest shelter in Santa Clara county and the Boccardo Center shelters up to 250 individuals a night. They serve the Bay Area community through low-barrier programming (prevention, outreach, shelters, and interim and permanent housing programs) and systems leadership.
After being unhoused for 25 years, Sammie secured housing through the Office of Supportive Housing in the summer of 2022 and set up automatic rent payments for convenience. For a year, everything went smoothly. In the summer of 2023, Sammie faced mental health challenges, leading to isolation and difficulties in maintaining housing. Sammie later discovered his rent payments had stopped and he owed over $1,500 in past-due rent.
Tim and LeeAnn applied for AHI at the beginning of 2024 and successfully moved into their apartment in July of the same year. At the time, Tim was working as a special education teacher and faced challenges after his partner lost her job. The family struggled to manage rent, daily expenses, and the additional costs of maintaining Tim's teaching credentials and licenses, all of which created a substantial financial burden. AHI provided an ability to stay local and continue serving the community, while also allowing the family to focus on financial stability and career growth.
Juan’s life took an unexpected turn last year when he suffered a heart attack. The road to recovery was challenging, as he faced mounting medical bills while waiting for his disability insurance to be approved. Despite his determination to return to work, both his doctor and employer advised against it due to his ongoing health concerns. Eventually, his employer had to make the difficult decision to let him go. Juan’s financial situation became dire.
Voltaire experienced significant financial challenges due to job loss, a rent increase, and the rising cost of living, making it difficult for him to meet his basic needs. Through a referral from Alta Housing, he was able to receive a grant from HIF, which served as a vital lifeline. This support provided him with the financial relief and breathing room he needed to focus on finding full-time employment and regaining stability.
Michelle first applied for AHI in April 2024, and was moved into her new apartment in June 2024. Michelle works for a non-profit in San Mateo County and was struggling with the increasing costs of the Bay Area. "The AHI program provided invaluable support and resources, enabling me to focus on my health and recovery while continuing to serve my community. AHI's assistance has been instrumental in helping me regain financial stability. My passion for serving the community is driven by my lived experience, and I find deep fulfillment in helping others navigate the system to achieve stability."
Mayra and Gustavo recently faced financial difficulties and struggled to cover their rent. Mayra had been off work for a couple of months following the birth of their son. Additionally, their roommate, who had contributed to the rent, unexpectedly moved out and Gustavo’s landscaping job did not provide sufficient income. HIF’s partner agency, St. Vincent de Paul, referred them to HIF for emergency rental assistance.
Destiny and Hector were on temporary leave from their jobs after the birth of their son when they found out they had been laid off. Struggling to make ends meet with a 3 month old baby, the new parents reached out to one of HIF’s partner agencies, The Bill Wilson Center, for assistance. HIF was able to grant financial assistance to the young couple to ensure they did not lose their home. “We wanted to thank HIF for helping my family during this difficult time."
HIF and Saarman Construction, along with Karlee Coble Interiors and several generous vendors, have created a beautiful environment for the clients of CORA, a San Mateo domestic violence agency dedicated to helping those affected by partner abuse, to ‘shop’ for new household goods as they prepare to move into their into new apartments and onto the next phase of reclaiming their lives and independence.
Led by Prometheus Real Estate Group and supported by Advanced Restoration, ProFloors, Fashion Furniture, GD Painting, Medallion Landscape, APD and so many generous supporters, HIF renovated five housing units that will support at-risk families as they rebuild their lives and move toward independence. This project leveraged over $250,000 of in-kind support for a market value of over $300,000!
AvalonBay, HIF and our awesome vendors team up for CityTeam Renovation Project! CityTeam Youth Collective’s supportive housing program aims to prevent homelessness by providing a loving community, essential life skills, and transitional resources for youth ages 18-24, many of whom are exiting foster care. HIF completed the following project with a market value of $36,000 in services and materials.
Life has not been easy for Christina, who grew up in foster care. She worked very hard to get where she is today and afford her first apartment, a place that she can call her own. Christina lost her job as a result of a car accident where her car was totaled, as she was not able to travel to and from work. She started to make financial sacrifices and cut back on expenses to make ends meet while searching for a new job. Realizing she was getting further behind...
Covenant House California (CHC) is a non-profit youth shelter that provides sanctuary and support for youth experiencing homelessness, ages 18-24. Because of the support of HIF’s amazing Corporate Champions and HIF Board Companies BluSky Restoration Contractors and Equity Residential, we were able to renovate 5 units which will allow 7 young adults to move into safe, supportive housing.
Renovation Program Champion and long-time supporter of HIF, BellaVista Landscape Services, transformed a community garden for the Ecumenical Hunger Program (EHP) in East Palo Alto, donating 100% of their labor and materials to fully irrigate and expand the garden space at EHP which provides fresh and healthy produce for local residents in need.
In September 2022, we completed this project at no cost to Maitri thanks to the generous support from Essex Property Trust and our professional vendor network. We provided new kitchen cabinets, counters and appliances, updated the bathrooms, and upgraded plumbing. We also painted the entire interior and refreshed the courtyard with drought resistant plants and a freshly-painted fence.
HIF engaged corporate champion American Asphalt to complete a renovation of Project Ninety's San Mateo recovery residence driveway and pathway. The market value of this project was in excess of $14,000 at no cost to Caminar and Project 90, thereby keeping valuable resources focused on assisting individuals in Project 90's alcohol and substance treatment services.
Maitri’s Anjali Transitional Housing Program houses survivors in a safe and sheltered environment, allowing the women in the program to transition into an empowered, self-sufficient, and independent life.
