Dear Neighbor,

As we all face the turmoil caused by COVID-19 and renewed purpose to reverse the impacts of systemic racism, we are resolute in our belief that safe, stable and affordable housing opens the doors to better lives for everyone. We are also unwavering in our commitment to action to bring equity and justice to housing in the greater Bay Area.

The partnerships we formed, the alliances we strengthened, and twenty years of financing affordable housing experience are among the tools we have to face what is in front of us. This era highlights the importance of housing as healthcare and shines a light on housing’s central role in social and racial equity. The pandemic strengthens our resolve to engage partners like Google, Apple, and others to join us to invest in affordable homes. The pandemic does increase the need for secure housing — and we are here to face the challenge.

We’re leading with community lending and helping others help those disproportionately affected by these crises. We’re still lending to multifamily developers to help our neighbors experiencing homelessness live in safe and healthy apartments. We’re still helping families throughout the County of Santa Clara buy a home thanks to Empower Homebuyers SCC. And we’re broadening our imperative work centering race and equity in our lending and educating our team to identify and dismantle the legacies of racism in housing.

While this is usually the time we pause to reflect and celebrate our collective achievements, this year, we cannot afford to pause. The cumulative effects of the impact we’ve made together — the grand openings and groundbreaking, families who are thrilled that their apartment will stay affordable — must just be a starting point. We must do more.

Over twenty years ago, Housing Trust was founded in the dot-com boom and bust to meet the housing needs in that moment and later rose to the challenges of the Great Recession and Foreclosure Crisis. And now, we are scaling to face the needs of the current housing crisis. We are meeting this new challenge and we are grateful to continue working with all of you.

Craig Robinson, Board Chair

Craig Robinson – Housing Trust Silicon Valley Board Chair

We believe safe, stable and affordable housing opens the door to better lives for everyone.