Explore Our History

From our founding 50 years ago, to our many expansions over the years, to the recent COVID 19 crisis, we invite you to explore a timeline of some of the most defining moments and achievements in Raphael House’s history.

Sophia House Opens in West Oakland + Shocking Events of 9/11
Sophia House Opens in West Oakland + Shocking Events of 9/11
  • Children’s Program Director, Carol Cole, opens Sophia House in West Oakland. Sophia House is a separately incorporated agency working closely with Raphael House to provide a seamless delivery of service to former residents. AfterCare activities, in addition to daycare and respite care, are offered at Sophia House. 
  • Events of September 11th shock the world. Some children are afraid to go up to play on the roof garden for several weeks, but Raphael House staff continues to offer support and care. Charitable giving is temporarily diverted on a national level.
Raphael House Purchases Properties on Sutter Street
Raphael House Purchases Properties on Sutter Street
  • Capital campaign is successfully completed! Raphael House totally owns its properties at a combined cost of $3.1 million, paid in full. 
  • Despite an economic recession, families in our Residential Shelter have a much easier time exiting homelessness for stable housing perhaps, in part, because the bust of the dot.com bubble has loosened the housing market considerably.
Expansion of Aid & Services
Expansion of Aid & Services

The number of families that received aid from Raphael House nearly doubles due to a large grant given by the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation. This grant creates the Housing First Program, which specifically targets the working poor. The purpose of the program is to support payment of move-in costs and as a result, families are able to immediately move into their own housing, allowing us to help many more individuals. 

Fr. David Lowells Honored for Community Service
Fr. David Lowells Honored for Community Service

Nominated by our lovable front desk supervisor Darlene Williams, Fr. David Lowell wins the prestigious Jefferson Award. This award is administered by the American Institute of Public Service, a national foundation that honors community service.

Establishing an Endowment Fund
Establishing an Endowment Fund
  • An endowment campaign is driven by the generous donation made by long-time donors and generous friends of Raphael House Ann-Ferrell Millham and her husband Steve (pictured). The Endowment campaign comes to close the following year and raises nearly $1.4 million!
  • “From Cradle to College”—Raphael House raises funds for a former resident’s college education through its first art show. 
Fr. David & Elaine Lowell Retire
Fr. David & Elaine Lowell Retire

Our longtime Executive Director, Father David Lowell, and his wife Elaine Lowell retire from Raphael House. Interim Executive Director Bruce Jack temporarily fills the role.

Increased Shelter Capacity + A New Executive Director
Increased Shelter Capacity + A New Executive Director
  • We increased capacity from 17 to 20 bedrooms with a total of 60 beds. In 2011, the shelter housed 39 families, with an average stay of 144 days.
  • Raphael House provided 31 families (34 adults; 56 children) with Housing First funds and 97% of them remain stably housed.
  • Raphael House served a total of 1,072 unduplicated individuals who were at-risk or experienced homelessness through our Residential Shelter, AfterCare/ChildReach and Housing First programs, including 304 adults and 768 children.
  • On January 13, 2011, we welcomed our new leader, Amanda Heier, as the Executive Director.
Foundation for Families Growth Campaign
Foundation for Families Growth Campaign
  • In response to a growing number of homeless families in San Francisco, Raphael House embarked on a $3 million capital growth campaign, Foundations for Families. By 2017, our Residential Shelter and Bridge Program will grow to reach an additional 200 families—67% more than we currently serve. By the end of 2014, thanks to the generosity of Marc and Lynne Benioff, we were one-third of the way to our goal. 
  • Raphael House also said goodbye to our Executive Director, Amanda Heier, as she assumed a leadership role with the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation.
Residential Shelter Expansion
Residential Shelter Expansion
  • Thanks to the support of our generous community, Raphael House completed phase one of our Foundations for Families campaign.
  • On March 20th we had a formal ribbon cutting to commemorate the completion of construction on our residential shelter expansion. Raphael House has eight new private residential rooms for families on the third floor of our residential shelter, as well as a new children’s playroom, family living room, kitchenette, and an office suite for private mental health services and additional program staff.
  • Thanks to the generosity of our community partners Aramark and other member companies (including: 20/20 Productions, Florin Pensions, Liza Evans Interior Design, LoopUp, and PwC) and individuals from the British-American Business Council, we have a new rooftop garden that will provide herbs and fresh vegetables for our kitchen and educational opportunities for the kids in our Children’s Program.
Raphael House’s Impact
Raphael House’s Impact
  • 55 families are welcomed to our Residential Shelter this year, and 86% of those families transition to long-term, stable housing
  • Our kitchen serves 20,911 meals to families
  • 100% of children receiving academic support demonstrated improved performance within 12 months