Meet John and Kristine

For all of my working career in the San Francisco Bay Area as a Real Estate Developer, I viewed the central challenge for communities wanting economic development as the lack of local affordable housing. The jobs-housing imbalance worsened over time with adverse effects including traffic congestion as workers were forced to make long commutes from more affordable, distant communities. When I discovered Habitat Greater San Francisco after my retirement, I was impressed with its innovative approach to providing affordable housing for qualified families with low incomes. I became a volunteer in addition to serving on the Board of Directors and various committees.

For over 12 years, I witnessed firsthand what owning an affordable home meant to hundreds of families who had been spending over 50% of their income on rental housing and leaving little money for other essentials. With a Habitat Greater San Francisco home, all-inclusive housing expenses are set at 30% of an owner’s income. Families could afford to live in the communities where they worked, thus reducing the amount of commuting, and having more time for family.

The impact is transformational. Families are less stressed. Communities benefit from empowered new owners and traffic is a little better. Habitat Greater San Francisco may not solve all the lack of affordable housing problems in the Bay Area but it’s making an impact and showing how great things can be accomplished when people of all walks of life come together and work on a problem that affects everyone.

My involvement with Habitat Greater San Francisco was so meaningful that I felt compelled to ask my wife to support the notion that we would include the organization in our estate planning, which we have done. It makes us happy to know that our legacy will help support families with affordable, secure housing needs into the future.

With great appreciation for the opportunity to serve Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco,
John and Kristine