Raphael House of San Francisco

If you're experiencing homelessness in San Francisco, you can still vote in this election. 🗳️

San Francisco Public Press has put together a helpful guide to ensure all San Franciscans, including those without permanent housing, know their voting rights and options. From casting a provisional ballot to finding your nearest voting location, this guide covers the essentials.

With Election Day just around the corner on Nov. 5, let's make sure everyone has the chance to cast their vote.

How Unhoused San Franciscans Can Vote in This Election If you’re one of the thousands of San Franciscans experiencing homelessness, you might be wondering if you can vote in this election. The answer is yes — even if you lack a fixed address or physical identification when you register or cast your ballot. “In San Francisco, it’s hard to not be ...

Access to culturally responsive services can make all the difference for migrant families experiencing homelessness.

Our Bilingual Family Stability Specialist Daniela and Bilingual Residential Case Manager David create welcoming spaces where Spanish-speaking families can communicate their needs, helping them navigate housing, healthcare, education, and other vital resources.

With generous support from Crankstart, we’re continuing to provide these essential services to migrant families in our community. Their partnership enables us to maintain dedicated bilingual specialists who provide comprehensive, culturally responsive support to families on their journey to stability.

Welcome to the Raphael House team, David Hartman! 🏠

We’re excited to introduce our new Interim Executive Director, who brings over 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience to our mission.

Check out our blog (link in bio) to learn more about David’s background, experience, and expertise!

We are thrilled to announce that we have received the 2024 Fundamental Needs grant from ! This generous support will help us continue our work of providing critical services to families in need.

A special thank you to Kathy Farmer, First Tech Board Member, who has been a steadfast advocate for our mission for several years. It’s because of dedicated supporters like Kathy that we can keep making a lasting impact on the lives of families across the Bay Area. Together, we’re building stronger futures for our community.

Introducing Ashley, a Residential Case Manager at Raphael House! 🌟

Ashley is passionate about helping families achieve financial independence and housing stability by supporting their autonomy. What she enjoys most is learning from clients and partnering organizations, navigating housing barriers, and empowering families within the Family Shelter System.

🎉 We are excited to welcome Brett Bush to our Board of Directors!

Already a valued member of our Executive Leadership Council, his expertise in finance and focus on community empowerment make him an excellent addition to our board.

Welcome, Brett!

📊 Impact In Action! 📊

Elisa Feria, our Director of Family Services, shares: ‘We couldn’t do our work without the incredible support of our community partners—childcare providers, housing advocates, clinical services, etc. Together with so many amazing organizations, we celebrate shared successes and navigate similar challenges. Even when the work is hard, knowing we’re in it together makes all the difference.’”

Our city’s strength lies in the hands of nonprofits, whose unwavering support lifts families through the toughest times. These organizations are not only vital, but they are held accountable to ensure every effort creates lasting impact. Let’s celebrate the powerful difference they make each day!

Transformative Change: Tamika and Her Daughters’ Experience

When Tamika and her two daughters escaped their home due to escalating domestic violence, they had nowhere to turn and spent several nights on the street, unsure of what would come next.

Then they arrived at Raphael House where they found safety and support. “We didn’t have to worry about looking over our shoulders,” Tamika shared.

With the support of our compassionate team, Tamika’s daughters continued their education, and within just four months, the family moved into their own apartment in San Francisco.

We are so proud of Tamika and her family for their resilience and determination.

Thank you, , for your generosity!

Your support helps us continue providing compassionate care and resources to Bay Area families. We’re grateful to partner with you in strengthening our community and making a positive impact together 💙

⭐️ Shining a Light on SF Nonprofits! ⭐️

In San Francisco, our social safety net is woven by the incredible nonprofits that step up in times of need. From food security to mental health support, they’re there for our community when it matters most.

Join us in celebrating their impact!

We had a great time at our fall Executive Leadership Council (ELC) meeting!

Our members took a deep dive into their LinkedIn networks to explore how their connections can best support Raphael House’s mission. Grateful for this incredible group of advocates helping us expand our impact for families 💼💛

Staff appreciation lunch 🍽️

Every day, the Raphael House team shows up with heart and dedication, making a positive impact in our community. The energy and hard work is truly appreciated - thank you for everything you do!

At Raphael House, we work with many families like the Solito family who navigate the arduous process of securing stable housing in the Bay Area. Their story is one of perseverance, and underscores the harsh realities of the housing crisis. Success in the housing lottery is rare. With over 500 families waiting for shelter in San Francisco’s Coordinated Entry system (a required process for accessing most shelters and HSH-funded housing opportunities), the path to permanent housing is often long and uncertain.

Many of the families we support come from shelters like the Buena Vista school gym–a crucial low-barrier option for those in need–where the Solitos stayed. However, rental subsidies, which have historically helped families transition out of shelters, are becoming increasingly difficult to secure. As these resources shrink, the gap between temporary shelter and permanent housing grows.

Each family’s situation is shaped by a combination of available resources and systemic barriers. While the Solitos’ story is incredibly inspiring, it also highlights the persistent challenges faced by many families. The time, struggle, determination, and luck involved are experiences familiar to those we work with everyday. To gain a deeper understanding of these ongoing challenges, and how they impact families, we encourage you to read the article in full.

Learn more about our work with families and how you can support our mission at www.raphaelhouse.org.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/08/us/migrant-family-san-francisco-homeless.html

They Slept on a Gym Floor Until They Won the Housing Lottery Margarita Solito and her family fled violence and poverty in El Salvador, hoping to build a better life in San Francisco. The city often wasn’t what they thought it would be.

A year ago, Raphael House faced significant challenges. Today, we’re proud to share the progress we’ve made and the milestones we’ve achieved:

⭐️ Raised over $1,000,000 at our annual gala—a historic first
⭐️ Provided 13,450+ meals to families in need
⭐️ Supported 370 children with emotional, developmental, and academic resources
⭐️ 93% of career development participants improved their goal-setting and self-advocacy skills

But our impact goes beyond numbers. This fall, one of our former residents—who overcame numerous obstacles—is starting her first semester of college!

Read our full update to learn more about this student’s inspiring journey to college and how you can help families continue to write their success stories.

Link in bio

Happy National Teddy Bear Day! 🧸

At our spring gala, we featured the ‘Give a Bear. Get a Bear’ initiative.

For every bear donated, a Raphael House family received a month of nutritious meals, and donors were gifted a bear in return.

Today, we celebrate the Raphael House teddy’s and the comfort they bring!

Creating safe spaces & providing lasting support to families since 1971 🏠

Our Board Chair, Tom Poser, shares a heartfelt message reflecting on our recent milestones, the upcoming leadership transition, and the bright future ahead at Raphael House.

Read his full message through the link in our bio!

Grateful for the amazing team from for wrapping birthday gifts for our kids with such enthusiasm! 🎁🎉

Your dedication to making a positive impact on our community is deeply appreciated 💙

Last summer, 36 Raphael House kids had the opportunity to explore new activities, build relationships, and continue their learning.

This summer, with the continued support of , RH kids are once again enjoying the joys of camp and summer programs ☀️

Every child deserves to have their birthday celebrated 🎂🎉🎁

We ensure that each child in our Residential program receives a gift, and a birthday cake from .

For our Bridge families, caregivers can sign up to receive a gift and cake kit.

Huge thanks to Zendesk for their amazing support 🎉

The team of volunteers went above and beyond with shelter cleanup, packing school supply kits, and organizing donations. We’re so grateful for the dedication to making a positive impact on our community!

Last weekend, we held our annual Back-to-School distribution day 📓✏️📚

Raphael House families with students from transitional kindergarten through 12th grade picked up the supplies they need to kick off the school year with confidence.

Through our Residential and Bridge Programs, we offer ongoing support and stability to the families we serve. Even after they transition beyond our shelter, families can continue to rely on our Back-to-School Drive to obtain essential supplies.

We are incredibly grateful for the generous support from our donors, and the volunteers at !

At Raphael House, we strive to create a welcoming and supportive environment for every family. We are grateful for the kind words from our clients.

Your support helps us provide these moments of care and comfort 💙🖍️

We’re delighted to welcome Cynthia Rock to our !

Cynthia brings extensive experience in real estate management, currently serving as the Vice President of Workplace and Real Estate at Uber Technologies.

With a long history of working in San Francisco and managing a global portfolio of properties, Cynthia adds a depth of strength in strategy, operations, and capital planning to our Board.

Welcome to the family, Cynthia!

We’re so close to reaching our goal!

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors, we have raised $9,080 for our Back-to-School Fund! We still need $920 to reach our $10,000 goal.

Help us ensure Raphael House students have the supplies they need to succeed this school year.

Donate now https://www.raphaelhouse.org/back-to-school/ 📓📚✏️