FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2026
Media Contact: Julia Forrest (julia@lh-pa.com)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA —Today, Raphael House is proud to announce that it has received a transformative $4.2 million grant from the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing to improve its facilities and expand its capacity to provide private rooms for more families experiencing homelessness. The grant is the first time the organization has received multi-year funding from the City of San Francisco in its 54-year history.
Over the next two years, this grant will not only help Raphael House continue serving families but also expand its reach and capacity to help more families. The funding will help Raphael House complete capital repairs, expand its family and children’s services offerings, and open eight more rooms to maximize the capacity of its residential shelter. The grant was championed by Mayor Daniel Lurie, and the funding was allocated to Raphael House in the San Francisco FY 2025-26 budget. Capital work is already underway to support the opening of eight more rooms, increasing Raphael House’s capacity to serve 50% more families beginning in summer 2026.
Raphael House’s fundraising team will continue to secure additional funding to support the increased capacity and sustain the health of the organization. Private funding continues to cover crucial work that help families find housing and remain stably housed, including program costs, direct support for families in need, and staffing for the Family Services Manager, additional case managers, continued capital work for our rooftop programming, and the Bridge Program.
“After 54 years of solely relying on community funding, we are honored to welcome the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing into our web of support,” said Raphael House Executive Director Tina Burgelman. “Raphael House remains committed to helping families experiencing homelessness receive the holistic support they deserve. With this grant—and the continued generosity of our Board Members, Executive Leadership Council, institutional partners, and donors—we will ensure families have ongoing access to the services we provide.”
Raphael House has always believed that homelessness is temporary and that every family experiencing homelessness can create a new beginning with the proper support.
Raphael House operates as a residential shelter on Sutter St., in San Francisco, where families can find temporary accommodations, fresh clothes, and healthy meals while they work one-on-one with case managers to secure stable housing. After families move out of our Residential Shelter, they are then welcome to participate in our Bridge Program, which provides all Raphael House families with additional care and case management to ensure their stability. Our Bridge Program allows families to continue accessing our continuum of services until the youngest child turns 18, providing ongoing support with children’s tutoring, financial literacy, career development, and other affiliated programs at Raphael House.
Since 1971, Raphael House has been a leader in providing low-income families in the San Francisco Bay Area with personalized family-centered solutions to build brighter futures. Over the last five years, 88% of Raphael House families have transitioned to stable housing, and 95% of engaged Bridge families have maintained their stable housing in the years following their move.
For more information or to arrange an interview with Raphael House Executive Director Tina Burgelman or Chair of the Board of Directors Tom Poser, please contact Julia Forrest at julia@lh-pa.com.
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