Activism

PRESS ROOM: Mayor London Breed Celebrates Groundbreaking of 100% Affordable and Supportive Housing Development in Soma

“We’ve got to prioritize preventing low-income families from becoming homeless, or being priced out of San Francisco, just as much as supporting people who are experiencing homelessness,” said MHC President Doug Shoemaker. “This development gives us the unique opportunity to do both at once.”

Published

3 years ago

September 18, 2022

Oakland Post

“Projects like this are key to the City’s work to provide permanent housing and care needed to truly transform the lives of people experiencing homelessness,” said Mayor London Breed.

More than 200 new homes for low-income residents and previously unhoused families to be built on lot that previously served as one of City’s first COVID testing sites

San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed announced the groundbreaking of a new 100% affordable housing development on 7th and Brannan Streets in the South of Market neighborhood. The 221 new homes located at 600 7th Street will provide permanent supportive housing for families and individuals who have experienced homelessness, and low-income families. Prior to construction beginning when the site was still an empty lot, it was home to one of San Francisco’s first COVID-19 testing sites that opened in April 2020 and served as a critical resource early during the City’s pandemic response.

The new homes at 7th and Brannan support the City’s need to add thousands more units of housing per year and builds on Mayor Breed’s Homelessness Recovery Plan, which included the largest expansion of permanent supportive housing in 20 years. Additional amenities at 7th and Brannan will include two courtyards, community rooms, bike storage, maintenance rooms, and laundry facilities.

“Projects like this are key to the City’s work to provide permanent housing and care needed to truly transform the lives of people experiencing homelessness,” said Mayor London Breed. “7th and Brannan is just one example of what we are doing to improve this neighborhood. With eight affordable housing projects currently under construction in District 6 alone, and another eight slated to break ground over the next three years, we are making a difference for San Franciscans. We need to do more to build projects like this across our entire city if we are going to meet our housing goals.”

“The 7th and Brannan development is a perfect example of what we need to do as a city to ensure residents aren’t priced out of San Francisco during this housing crisis,” said District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey. “To reach our housing goal of 82,000 additional units by 2030, the City needs to push for more affordable housing, not just within District 6, but across all neighborhoods, and I look forward to working with my colleagues at the Board of Supervisors to see this through.”

Residents at 7th and Brannan will also have access to multiple transit options. The development site is across the street from a MUNI bus stop, a 10-minute walk to the San Francisco Caltrain and a 20-minute walk to the Civic Center BART stations. The development will also include more than 5,000 square feet of community-serving commercial space facing Brannan Street.

The project developer, Mercy Housing California (MHC), is committed to working with the City to create permanently affordable family rental housing which includes units serving households who have experienced homelessness, as well as ground-floor commercial use serving San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood. MHC owns 160 rental properties across 36 California counties, serving low and very-low-income working families, seniors, people who have experienced homelessness, people living with HIV/AIDS, and people with disabilities.

The new development at 7th and Brannan is funded by a mix of federal tax credits, as well as substantial support from the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development for the development of permanent supportive housing for people in need of mental health services and are experiencing homelessness, chronic homelessness, or at risk of chronic homelessness.

7th and Brannan will be managed by Mercy Housing Management Group, with supportive housing services provided by Episcopal Community Services of San Francisco. The property was designed by Santos Prescott + Associates and the construction is a joint venture between Suffolk Construction and local firm Guzman Construction Group. The building is expected to welcome its first residents in summer 2024.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

New Bivalent Boosters Adds Protection from Omicron Variant Ahead of Predicted Surge

Don't Miss

Marin County and Nine Local Jurisdictions File Suit Against Monsanto to Recover Costs Related to Cleanup of Toxic PCBs

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of May 28 – June 30, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 28 – June 3, 2025

Published

10 hours ago

May 30, 2025

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of May 21 – 27, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 21 – 27, 2025

Published

5 days ago

May 25, 2025

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

OPINION: Your Voice and Vote Impact the Quality of Your Health Care

One of the most dangerous developments we’re seeing now? Deep federal cuts are being proposed to Medicaid, the life-saving health insurance program that covers nearly 80 million lower-income individuals nationwide. That is approximately 15 million Californians and about 1 million of the state’s nearly 3 million Black Californians who are at risk of losing their healthcare.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 19, 2025

Oakland Post

Rhonda M. Smith.

By Rhonda M. Smith, Special to California Black Media Partners

Shortly after last year’s election, I hopped into a Lyft and struck up a conversation with the driver. As we talked, the topic inevitably turned to politics. He confidently told me that he didn’t vote — not because he supported Donald Trump, but because he didn’t like Kamala Harris’ résumé. When I asked what exactly he didn’t like, he couldn’t specifically articulate his dislike or point to anything specific. In his words, he “just didn’t like her résumé.”

That moment really hit hard for me. As a Black woman, I’ve lived through enough election cycles to recognize how often uncertainty, misinformation, or political apathy keep people from voting, especially Black voters whose voices are historically left out of the conversation and whose health, economic security, and opportunities are directly impacted by the individual elected to office, and the legislative branches and political parties that push forth their agenda.

That conversation with the Lyft driver reflects a troubling surge in fear-driven politics across our country. We’ve seen White House executive orders gut federal programs meant to help our most vulnerable populations and policies that systematically exclude or harm Black and underserved communities.

One of the most dangerous developments we’re seeing now? Deep federal cuts are being proposed to Medicaid, the life-saving health insurance program that covers nearly 80 million lower-income individuals nationwide. That is approximately 15 million Californians and about 1 million of the state’s nearly 3 million Black Californians who are at risk of losing their healthcare.

Medicaid, called Medi-Cal in California, doesn’t just cover care. It protects individuals and families from medical debt, keeps rural hospitals open, creates jobs, and helps our communities thrive. Simply put; Medicaid is a lifeline for 1 in 5 Black Americans. For many, it’s the only thing standing between them and a medical emergency they can’t afford, especially with the skyrocketing costs of health care. The proposed cuts mean up to 7.2 million Black Americans could lose their healthcare coverage, making it harder for them to receive timely, life-saving care. Cuts to Medicaid would also result in fewer prenatal visits, delayed cancer screenings, unfilled prescriptions, and closures of community clinics. When healthcare is inaccessible or unaffordable, it doesn’t just harm individuals, it weakens entire communities and widens inequities.

The reality is Black Americans already face disproportionately higher rates of poorer health outcomes. Our life expectancy is nearly five years shorter in comparison to White Americans. Black pregnant people are 3.6 times more likely to die during pregnancy or postpartum than their white counterparts.

These policies don’t happen in a vacuum. They are determined by who holds power and who shows up to vote. Showing up amplifies our voices. Taking action and exercising our right to vote is how we express our power.

I urge you to start today. Call your representatives, on both sides of the aisle, and demand they protect Medicaid (Medi-Cal), the Affordable Care Act (Covered CA), and access to food assistance programs, maternal health resources, mental health services, and protect our basic freedoms and human rights. Stay informed, talk to your neighbors and register to vote.

About the Author

Rhonda M. Smith is the Executive Director of the California Black Health Network, a statewide nonprofit dedicated to advancing health equity for all Black Californians.