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Maitri

At the end of 2025 and beginning of 2026, with the generous support of Corporate Champion, ESSEX Property Trust, lead GC IBI Construction Inc., and a multitude of vendors, we completed another renovation project at Maitri! This project included a full renovation of two of their transitional housing units. 8 of ESSEX’s volunteers came together on 1/14/26 for a day of prep, priming and painting the downstairs!

AACI

In 2025, HIF and vendor champion Smart Building completed a renovation project at AACI: Asian Woman’s Home, adding two kitchen islands along with an additional sink and disposal to meet the shelter’s need for increased cooking and prep space, storage, and improved flow during meal times. These improvements will significantly enhance safety and health for both residents and staff.

Asefeh Mazraeh

MANAGING DIRECTOR
Joined 2026
Asefeh Mazraeh, MSW is a nonprofit and social-impact leader with over 17 years of experience across healthcare, housing, and community-based services. She has held senior leadership roles focused on housing stability, care management, and services for vulnerable and underserved populations.

Nora and Betty’s Story

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’s Story

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.

TURN Behavioral

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

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.

Brandi Wilson

OPERATIONS MANAGER
Joined 2024
Brandi joined HIF in July 2024 as the Operations Manager. New to the nonprofit sector, Brandi brings over a decade of diverse experience in office and financial management, gained through her work in healthcare, collision repair, and construction—all in small business settings.

Breigha Sawyer

DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Joined 2025
Breigha Sawyer is a passionate grant writer and fundraiser with a strong dedication to nonprofit development. Over the years, she has collaborated with a diverse range of organizations including homeless services, and more recently a farming education program in the Bay Area.

Home Runs for Housing 2024

Reserve and pay for your sponsorship by 3/1/2024 and get a 10% discount. Click the Sponsorship Details button below for more info on the opportunities and benefits.

RIDE HOME: HIF Cycling Event for Housing URL Redirect

June 11, 2022 HIF is bringing together the cycling community to hit the Coyote Creek Trail at Hellyer County Park! We’re raising funds to prevent homelessness and help individuals and families in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties stay securely housed so our communities can thrive.