San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed and community leaders today celebrated the groundbreaking of 78 Haight, located on the corner of Haight Street and Octavia Boulevard in Hayes Valley. The project will provide 63 new permanently affordable homes for low-income adults and families, including 32 homes for previously unhoused transitional-aged youth. 

Stretching along the former site of the Central Freeway, which was demolished following the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, 78 Haight will be a seven-story building with on-site wraparound services for families and youth, including targeted resources for youth exiting homelessness, as well as a childcare center, rooftop garden, and community rooms. In addition to the 32 homes for transitional-aged youth exiting homelessness, the other 31 homes will serve low-income adults and families making between 50% and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). 

“As San Francisco continues to recover from the pandemic, we need to make sure that we are building a city that is more equitable and affordable for all of our residents, especially our most vulnerable young people,” said Mayor Breed. “Thanks to assistance from the state and generous funding from our city partners, this new development will provide housing to those in need for generations to come.” 

The Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC) is master leasing the site for the 100% affordable housing project, which was permitted under a streamlined approval process per Senate Bill 35. On-site social work services will be provided by Larkin Street Youth Services, and Wu Yee Children’s Services will operate the childcare center. Along with the aforementioned amenities, 78 Haight will seek a LEED Gold Certification, one of the highest certifications for sustainable construction, and feature a mural focused on the history of the Hayes Valley neighborhood. It is anticipated that 78 Haight will be move-in ready by late 2023. 

“District 5 has long been home to many homeless youth seeking refuge from abusive families, alienating foster care and group home situations, and juvenile justice system involvement. This project delivers 63 new permanently affordable homes, more than half of which are dedicated to transitional-aged youth. This is the kind of work that changes lives, and we are committed to continuing this work throughout our district,” said Supervisor Dean Preston.  

“78 Haight is serving a great need as one of the first housing communities in San Francisco with homes specifically dedicated for young people transitioning out of homelessness. Young people and individuals with low incomes deserve access to quality affordable homes coupled with social services to help them thrive. With 78 Haight, they will have an opportunity to focus on well-being and build a vibrant, supportive community,” said Maurilio León, TNDC CEO. 

The 63 new homes at 78 Haight are part of Mayor Breed’s goals to build 5,000 new homes at all levels of affordability each year, and builds on her Homelessness Recovery Plan which was enacted in July 2020 to expand housing and shelter options over a two-year period for the unhoused, including the largest expansion of permanent supportive housing in twenty years. To further address youth homelessness in San Francisco, Mayor Breed also launched the Rising Up Initiative, a public-private partnership in support of the citywide goal to reduce homelessness for youth ages 18 to 25 by 50% between the years 2019 and 2023.  

"Larkin Street Youth Services is thrilled to see the continued growth of San Francisco’s portfolio of supportive housing for Transition Age Youth (TAY) with the groundbreaking at 78 Haight Street. We have a longstanding and successful partnership with TNDC that started more than 20 years ago when we launched the first supportive housing program for TAY in the nation. We are honored to be their partner on this new development that will eventually house 32 TAY and TAY-headed family households. A safe and stable place to call home opens doors to the future for young people, and this development will give 32 TAY households the opportunity for a brighter future off the streets,” said Sherilyn Adams, Executive Director of Larkin Street Youth Services. 

The forthcoming development at 78 Haight was made possible by financing from the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) which allocated funds awarded through California’s No Place Like Home (NPLH) Program that supports projects that create permanent supportive housing for those experiencing chronic homelessness. Silicon Valley Bank, Merritt Community Capital and the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee provided additional financing. Local firms Regent Construction Management, LLC, Guzman Construction Group, Luk & Associates, KPFF Consulting Engineers and TS Studios were enlisted on the project.