MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER
AL BORVICE
Many years ago, in American History, a family had the ability to own land as part of its legacy. This was often referred to as "40 acres and a mule." Whenever the American family found itself disenfranchised, it could always move west. The U.S. government would provide a homestead that was free and clear, the only condition being that the family settle upon and develop the parcel of land.
Today, one cannot pick up a newspaper or a report of some sort or enter into economic development discussion without mentioning the crisis in affordable housing.
When HDNPC began 47 years ago with the goal to develop and preserve housing for low-income people, and in particular San Francisco's low-income Latino community, the crisis in housing was perceived as a lack of affordable shelter for the poor. Homeownership, however, was still an attainable goal for the middle-income family. The price of a single-family home in San Francisco in 1979 was approximately $80,000.
That same home is now $1,000,000 - or much more. In just ten short years (written in 1979), HDNPC has found that our housing development efforts are confronting not only the plight of poor people but of the overwhelming majority of Americans of almost every economic class struggling to pay rent or buy a house as first time homeowners.
There are many theories on why we are facing this affordability crisis at this time in our history. The reasons, the theories, the finger-pointing are many. But the real issues and goals of our society today lie in the basic premise that we as a people must own land. And here in the twenty-first century, owning a home is owning our piece of the land of this country.
Indeed, the vitality of the housing market is an indication of the health of our nation. Affordability of basic shelter allows disposable income for other goods and services. Thus, the survival of our economy, competitiveness and democracy depends on our ability to have both good housing as well as spendable income.
HDNPC will continue to provide well-built and affordable housing for low income families using a myriad of resources - as we have been doing for the past 45 years. Even more, we will expand our efforts to make housing a reality for first-time homeowners as well, thus attempting to ease the serious crunch in our rental market.