Rooted in the Mission District, a letter from Mission Housing's Executive Team.

2024 was both a season for harvest and of planting for us at Mission Housing Development Corporation. It was a time to enjoy the fruits of long-standing efforts and a time to sow bold new visions for the future. It was a year when we allowed ourselves a moment of reflection, breathing in the progress we’ve made alongside our neighbors and partners. And yet, as any grower knows, there is always more to tend. The urgency of the housing crisis pulled us forward once again, deepening our resolve to expand access, dignity, and belonging in every corner of the city. This is the rhythm of our work— steady, seasonal, and sustained. It is how we grow, and it is how we stay grounded “hasta la raíz” — to the root. 

This past year, we began to sow the early seeds of deeper, more strategic policy engagement—laying the foundation for future growth that will one day shape the housing landscape across San Francisco and beyond. By joining the San Francisco Supportive Housing Network and rejoining the MOHCD Housers Convening, we reconnected with a network of partners working toward shared goals. Our contributions to the statewide “Yes in God’s Backyard” initiative and the creation of a new internal policy roadmap mark the first shoots of what we hope will become a lasting legacy in affordable housing advocacy. These beginnings may still be tender, but they are rooted in clarity and conviction. Like new growth in a forest, they are strengthened by the systems around them — and with continued care and alignment, they will rise to support the broader ecosystem we’re helping to build. 

In 2024, Mission Housing strengthened its roots by growing the Community Engagement team, welcoming new leaders who embody the values and aspirations of our neighborhoods. With the addition of a Director and Senior Manager of Community Engagement, we expanded our reach and deepened our presence — branches growing outward, roots growing downward. These team members became essential links in our ecosystem, connecting residents with opportunities and information, and helping foster the collective strength that carried us through the successful campaigns. Through meaningful engagement, education, and advocacy, we ensured that the voices of our community — long-established and newly joined — were heard. This is what it means to grow as a forest: together, grounded in purpose, and resilient by design.  

This past year, Mission Housing continued building the kind of legacy only time, care, and collective effort can create. We secured predevelopment funding for major projects like 250 Laguna Honda and 1979 Mission Street, while breaking ground on the rehabilitation of Dunleavy Plaza. Our work with Insight Housing at 4301 Geary Blvd. marked a new chapter in how we serve veterans — another ring in the trunk of our long-standing commitment to those in need. Behind these milestones is an unseen network: new staff joined, compliance systems matured, and asset managers were trained and empowered. These are the roots that anchor us. They ensure that what grows above is strong, sustainable, and ready to shelter generations to come. Like a forest growing steadily over decades, we continue expanding — reaching upward while remaining deeply grounded in our mission.   As we extend our canopy westward — bringing shelter, equity, and opportunity to new neighborhoods — our roots remain firmly planted in the Mission District, the soil where our values first took hold. We are not a single tree, but a forest — interconnected, resilient, and thriving because of the people who sustain us. Every project we launch, every policy we shape, and every resident we stand beside is part of this living ecosystem. And like any forest, our strength lies not just in what is seen above, but in the deep, often invisible network of support below. You are part of that network. Your partnership, your advocacy, your belief in this work — that is what allows us to grow tall, to shelter others, and to stand strong through every season. As we look to the future, we invite you to keep growing with us. Let’s rise together — deeply rooted, ever reaching.  Executive Team, Mission Housing Development Corporation.

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