Walking around San Francisco’s Sunnydale neighborhood these days, you can feel the excitement building. Dozens of families are moving into beautiful new homes, young people are back in school and the sounds of new construction are a constant reminder of change and opportunity. In partnership with HOPE SF, a bold San Francisco initiative focused on improving public housing infrastructure while preventing displacement, Mercy Housing California is leading a resident-centered transformation of this vibrant neighborhood.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, neighborhood residents fared remarkably well over the last 18 months thanks to incredible teamwork among Mercy Housing California (MHC), other nonprofits, generous donors, government partners, and community leaders. Young residents involved in our food security program delivered more than 150,000 meals to their neighbors, students got stocked up on school supply kits, and staff helped distribute around $94,000 in philanthropic rent relief to families and seniors in need.

As we turn our sights back to our pre-pandemic goals, we’ve renewed our urgent focus on replacing the 775 obsolete, worn-down apartments with 1,600 safe and modern homes at various rent and income levels. In the next few months, 125 current Sunnydale families will begin moving into our second residential building, the architecturally delightful 290 Malosi, which includes a total of 167 affordable apartments.

New residences aren’t the only thing stirring up excitement at Sunnydale, though. The next big step in realizing the community’s vision is securing funding for the HUB, which includes 35,000 square-feet of community space including a new recreation center, an early childcare center, and an expanded Boys & Girls Clubhouse that will triple youth programming capacity.

Hearing residents describe the challenges they have faced for far too long – deteriorating homes, inconsistent internet access and limited youth resources – makes it clear what a game-changer the Sunnydale HUB will be for the entire Visitacion Valley neighborhood, including Sunnydale. Once complete, this much needed community space will bring together thousands of adults and children to enjoy a safe space for playing, learning, and growing.

Unlike the rest of MHC’s work at Sunnydale HOPE SF, the HUB is primarily a fundraising effort. To date, MHC and its partners have raised a startling $23 million from generous individuals, businesses, and foundations. We need your help to raise an additional $17 million in order to begin construction in June of 2022.

Visit BuildTheHub.org to learn more, or contact Shashi Jivan at sjivan@mercyhousing.org to help us make the HUB a reality.