San Francisco Awards Raphael House $4.2M Grant to Expand Capacity, Improve Facilities

The City and County of San Francisco has awarded Raphael House a transformative $4.2 million contract to expand its residential shelter and complete capital repairs, a move city officials say will increase the nonprofit’s capacity to serve more families. The multi-year funding, allocated in the FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 budget, is the first time Raphael House has received multi-year City funding in its 54-year history.

Capital work is already underway to prepare eight private rooms that Raphael House plans to open, and the City expects the expanded shelter to allow Raphael House to serve 50% more families beginning in summer 2026. Mayor Daniel Lurie and Director McSpadden are cited by the City Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing as champions of the award. The City described the allocation as supporting facility improvements, capital repairs, and expanded family and children’s services.

Raphael House Executive Director Tina Burgelman welcomed the award. “Raphael House is honored and excited to welcome the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing into its expansive web of support,” Burgelman said. “Raphael House remains committed to helping families experiencing homelessness receive the holistic support they deserve. This grant will not only ensure families have ongoing access to the services we provide, but it will also allow more families to receive the essential services they need to thrive.”

Raphael House traces its roots to the early 1970s and lists multiple management awards on its website, including the John R. May Award from the San Francisco Foundation, the Management Center’s Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management, and the Sara Lee Leadership Award. Current services in the Residential Shelter include private bedrooms for parents and children, family-centered case management, career development, family wellness support, comprehensive children’s services, and aftercare through the Bridge Program. Elizabeth Willis, Director of Family Services, is noted for conducting weekly parenting classes, home visits, counseling, and family activities as part of the Bridge Program’s follow-up work.

The nonprofit has sustained community fundraising and volunteer support; its 2023 Black & White Gala raised over $870,000 at the Palace Hotel and honored Kate Smith for more than 20 years of involvement. Raphael House’s timeline also records a Volunteer Program that enlisted more than 200 volunteers in a single year.

Raphael House staff highlighted program outcomes on social media. Michele C. Lee wrote on LinkedIn, “Incredibly proud of the work we do at Raphael House and this $4.2 million grant from the City of San Francisco is a powerful testament to our impact,” and added that the funds will help “scale our 85%+ success rate in helping families achieve long-term housing and financial stability.” That performance metric is presented as an organizational claim in staff communications.

For San Francisco residents, the immediate impact is clear: more private rooms and repaired facilities at a longstanding family shelter, with new beds expected to come online in summer 2026. What follows will matter to voters and service partners alike, how the City and Raphael House allocate the funds between capital and programming, the exact increase in families served compared with current baseline numbers, and how outcomes are tracked and reported during the FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 funding period. Local watchdogs, service providers, and policymakers will be watching for those details as the expansion proceeds.