Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco Continues Mission of Two Local Affiliates

August 1, 2008 - Habitat for Humanity San Francisco and Peninsula Habitat for Humanity today finalized their merger and began officially operating as a single Habitat affiliate known as Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco. While their name has changed, their mission to partner with working families and the community to build affordable ownership homes in Marin, San Francisco and the Peninsula remains the same.

For nearly two decades, Habitat for Humanity's presence in the community has helped to provide affordable housing solutions in one of the least affordable real estate markets in the world-a place where many working families live in unsafe, unhealthy and substandard living conditions. By joining forces as a single affiliate, Habitat Greater San Francisco has become an even stronger advocate for their cause.

The merger enables the new affiliate to have a greater impact on the community. By streamlining operations and consolidating overhead expenses, Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco is able to more efficiently leverage donor funds and ultimately increase the number of affordable ownership homes built and families served. Over the past 19 years, the San Francisco and Peninsula affiliates have enabled nearly 150 families to purchase safe, decent and affordable homes, allowing them to create a better future for their children. As a single affiliate, Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco plans to build 100 more homes in the next five years.

Under the merger, Leif Langensand, former board chair of Peninsula Habitat for Humanity, has assumed the role of board chair of Habitat Greater San Francisco. Phillip Kilbridge, former executive director of Habitat San Francisco, is continuing as the executive director of the new affiliate.

Habitat Greater San Francisco is currently searching aggressively for new office space to accommodate the entire combined staff of Habitat San Francisco and Peninsula Habitat and expects to be relocated by early 2009. In the meantime, both existing offices in San Francisco and Redwood City will remain open.

About Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco

Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco is a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Habitat's homeownership program allows families working in service, manufacturing, retail and other sectors to live near their jobs in decent, safe, permanent homes. The Habitat for Humanity philosophy encourages self-help by providing a "hand up-not a hand out." Habitat homeowners invest a lot of effort into their dreams, including 500 hours of "sweat equity" to help build their own homes, as well as additional time for homeownership education. Houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable, zero interest mortgages structured never to exceed one-third of their monthly income.

Since 1989, Habitat Greater San Francisco has built more than 135 homes throughout San Mateo and San Francisco counties. Its geographic area extends nearly 100 miles from East Palo Alto in southern San Mateo County to Novato and coastal areas of Marin County. A total of 28 incorporated cities and 38 unincorporated communities are included in its service area. Currently, Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco is building eight townhomes on Lincoln Avenue in Redwood City and twelve single-family homes on De Long Street in San Francisco's Outer Mission neighborhood. It will also soon break ground on seven new homes at Whitney Young Circle in San Francisco's Bayview community and has proposed new affordable housing developments on Terminal Avenue in Menlo Park, Mission Street in Daly City, and Lower Eagle Rock Road in unincorporated Marin County.