Happy Thanksgiving!

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during this holiday season, Habitat Greater San Francisco gives thanks for the blessings we've experienced this year-a new and vibrant organization, neighborhoods full of successful Habitat homeowners and committed volunteers, donors, board and staff members.

And yet this is also a great time of need. With all eyes on the struggling economy, it is now more important than ever to invest in an organization you trust. You know the work that Habitat for Humanity does in your community. Now through the merger we have reduced overhead costs without losing sight of what's really important-our families.

With your financial investment, we can partner with even more families by leveraging a $200,000 challenge grant from a local family foundation. For every dollar you give between now and December 31, this generous foundation will match your gift dollar-for-dollar. Now is the time to invest in Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco as we build homes and hope for hardworking families in Marin, San Francisco and the Peninsula.

2008 Annual Report [PDF]

Finally, a Place to Call Home

Habitat Greater San Francisco Dedicates New Homes in San Francisco

tai hong hoang and li fen, along with their three children and his brother, Alex, lived in a small studio apartment in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco. The living conditions were substandard and unsafe. While Alex slept on a small bed in the closet, the children slept with their parents on the studio bed - where the family also ate its meals on most days. Drug activity in the street below prevented the children from going outside to play. However, on October 25, 2008, Tai Hong and Li Fen started a new life as they received the keys to their new house on De Long Street in San Francisco.

The ceremony was part of the dedication event marking the completion of the final three homes in the De Long development. Two additional families received their keys at the event, including the Li family and the Zheng family, from a total of 16 Habitat families on De Long Street in San Francisco and Daly City. Read More.

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Habitat Introduces New Development in San Francisco

construction on a new affordable ownership housing development from Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco begins this month at Whitney Young Circle in San Francisco's Bayview neighborhood. The new Habitat development, which is expected to be completed in early 2010, addresses the critical need for safe, decent housing for local working families. Community support is vital to the Habitat program. The American Bankers Association (ABA) is a national sponsor of Habitat for Humanity and one of the first to partner with Habitat Greater San Francisco on this development, demonstrating its strong commitment to help eliminate poverty housing and strengthen the local community. Read More.

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Redwood City Development Takes Shape

the lincoln avenue development in Redwood City is making great progress. With all units now completely enclosed, the site is ready for construction during the winter months. Much of the interior work is well underway - including insulation, drywall, painting, flooring and plumbing, providing continued volunteer opportunities on the site, rain or shine. The development is expected to be completed in mid 2009.

New AmeriCorps Members Join Habitat

this year, 14 men and women from AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA will spend their year with Habitat for Humanity Great San Francisco. Out of the more than 50,000 members working in AmeriCorps programs throughout the country this year, this group has pledged to help fulfill the local need for affordable housing. "I know that what I'm doing helps people. People I meet, people I see on the job site, people who need our organization," said Josh Urich, Assistant Volunteer Coordinator at Habitat Greater San Francisco. Read More.

Bob Mougeot, Office Volunteer, Redwood City

each year, thousands of volunteers work on the construction site to help build our Habitat homes. It is a facet of the program for which Habitat is best known and is critical to our success. Behind the scenes, however, are volunteers who work in strategic roles for the organization and help move Habitat Greater San Francisco forward. "I really enjoy working at Habitat," says Bob Mougeot, retired CPA and CFO who volunteers more then 700 hours in the Redwood City office each year.

"As an individual, I can make a small contribution and be a part of the Habitat process. So I'm always very proud to see the families move into their homes." Read More.

Maurice Beesley - Construction Site Volunteer

maurice beesley is a construction site volunteer who wanted to do more than write a check to Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco. "Just giving money over the years no longer provided the kick that I had imagined philanthropy must offer the wealthy. It was nice, but I felt detached from the community of those who did the actual work," said Maurice. Read More.

San Francisco Chronicle, November 9, 2008
Bankers, Habitat for Humanity build SF homes

seventy bankers arrived in San Francisco today, one day before their annual convention - not to see the sights, but to grab hammers and nails and help assemble the frames for seven affordable homes that will be built on a bluff in the Bayview neighborhood. Read More.

San Jose Mercury News, October 6, 2008
Financial lessons from non-profit community groups
Editorial by Phillip Kilbridge

"greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works." This according to the Michael Douglas character Gordon Gekko, as he made a compelling yet disturbing case for his financial excess in the movie "Wall Street" more than two decades ago.

With a $700 billion government-sponsored "rescue" on the books, we can reflect on this statement in the context of the implosion of the housing and credit bubble. Was greed the influencing factor? How could it have been mitigated? Read More.[PDF]