Housing & Homelessness

We believe that housing is a fundamental human right. Homelessness in the Bay Area – driven by a lack of affordable housing, high and increasing housing costs, and low incomes and unemployment – is a severe humanitarian crisis, and one that disproportionately affects Black and Latinx families in the region. It is also a failure of policy and political will. All Bay Area residents, especially those from historically marginalized communities, should have the opportunity and agency to choose safe, affordable, and secure housing.

Temporary Housing 

The Foundation has long championed permanent supportive housing to combat chronic homelessness. The Schwabs were instrumental in the development of the Tahanan at 833 Bryant Street, a groundbreaking permanent supportive housing project providing 145 units and related services to people experiencing homelessness that was completed in half the time and at two-thirds the cost of similar projects in San Francisco. Yet the Bay Area suffers from a lack of adequate temporary housing – a need that is all the more urgent as the end of pandemic-era programs threatens a worsening of unsheltered homelessness. We aim to increase the supply of high-quality temporary housing options by supporting proven models of facilities and integrated services, as well as innovative and cost-effective solutions such as tiny cabins. We also focus on improving the training and retention of case managers, improving the flow into and out of temporary housing, and prioritizing job training so that homeless individuals can obtain the steady income needed to maintain permanent housing.  

Prevention

We recognize the stark reality that in San Francisco four people become homeless for every one person who secures permanent housing. We cannot successfully combat the homelessness crisis unless we do more to stop homelessness before it starts. To that end, the Foundation focuses on prevention efforts including increased access to eviction protection and other integrated services, and expanded pathways to employment and stable careers for extremely low-income populations and those with barriers to employment.