Winter newsletter 2023

WINTER 2023

A City Garden We were thrilled to gather with friends and neighbors recently at City Gardens in San Francisco, celebrating the grand opening of the newest supportive housing program for families in The City’s SoMa neighborhood.

City Gardens offers almost 200 housing units and a wide range of social services. San Francisco Mayor London Breed and several other community leaders joined us at the Nov. 1 ceremony along 12th Street.

Also, Abode participant Leticia Azevedo delivered an emotional speech that described how City Gardens has helped Azevedo and her young son, lifting them up as Azevedo has thrived in her new home.

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A CITY GARDEN (cont. from page 1) “I couldn’t leave my heart in San Francisco — like it says in the old Tony Bennett song — I actually found my heart in San Francisco,” Azevedo said.

“I love living here in City Gardens, in this city by the bay.”

City Gardens, constructed in 2021, was built with allocations from state Homekey programs and with Our City, Our Home funds. The building includes attractive amenities such as a large lobby and community space, resident lounges on every floor, roof terrace, offices, bike storage, and a landscaped courtyard. Residents have access to a wide range of supportive services, including case management and mental health counseling, provided by Abode.

Abode is an advocate of the Housing First approach to ending homelessness and City Gardens fits that mold.

“City Gardens is a wonderful family project that we are excited to be a part of,” said Louis Chicoine, chief executive officer of Abode. “We are thankful to have been brought on by the City and County of San Francisco to operate such a beautiful and meaningful building that is now home to many San Franciscans.”

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Welcome to Abode!

We are pleased to announce that we have added Maryann Leshin, a Bay Area community leader, as a new member of the Abode Board of Directors.

Maryann is a seasoned professional in affordable and supportive housing, with experience totaling more than 35 years of implementing complex initiatives, leading teams, delivering technical assistance, designing programs, and maintaining accountability with stakeholders. She has successfully worked with federal, state, and local governments, as well as with nonprofits, foundations, and residents.

Maryann has extensive experience in providing affordable housing and improving housing security for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Her past responsibilities have included managing a housing portfolio consisting of more than a dozen properties and a supportive housing development pipeline.

She also has developed and implemented programs that delivered $70 million in capital funding to affordable housing developments; new technology systems that increase capacity to collect and analyze data; and a robust Emergency Rental Assistance Program that assisted extremely low-income households at risk of homelessness.

Maryann holds a Bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Brandeis University in Massachusetts, and a Master’s degree in Community Planning from Antioch University West in San Francisco.

Please join us in proudly welcoming Maryann Leshin to the Abode Board of Directors!

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Season of Giving Imagine being a child and receiving no gifts during the holidays. Even worse, imagine living without basics such as blankets to stay warm or regular meals to keep from going hungry because you simply cannot afford them.

Another holiday season has arrived and, although this time is joyous for many, the cold reality is that it can be incredibly stressful and sad for too many others.

The good news? You can brighten the holidays for children and parents in our programs, bringing security and warmth to otherwise cold, wintry nights. Here’s how you can help!

Gift Cards: Donate Target or Walmart gift cards to help parents purchase new clothing or food for a holiday meal. Doing this fills a basic need for families and bolsters the spirits of the people we serve.

Wish List: Go online at www.abode.org and read our Wish List to see which winter items — including new and gently used sleeping bags, umbrellas, and nonperishable food, among other things — are most in need from donors. (NOTE: At this time, we cannot accept used toys, books, or previously worn clothing and shoes.)

Give Online: Help end homelessness by making an easy and secure online donation at www.abode.org. Or mail a check to Abode, 40849 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA 94538.

For more information, contact us at donors@abode.org.

We thank you for giving to brighten the holiday season for Abode participants.

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Save the Date!

You are invited to our next special event scheduled for March 1, 2024.

That is when we will host our 19th annual Journey Home Breakfast!

The breakfast — Abode’s only fundraiser of the year — will be held from 8 to 9 a.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Newark – Fremont.

We are hosting the breakfast in person for the first time in four years.

Hundreds of guests are expected to attend the event, showing their support for our mission and hearing about the progress we are making toward ending homelessness.

Local leaders and community members will share a meal and learn about the powerful impact Abode’s efforts are having on the several Bay Area communities in which we work.

Anu Natarajan, former Vice Mayor of Fremont, will serve as the event’s emcee.

The list of other featured speakers will include the organization’s leaders, as well as an Abode participant who will deliver a live speech.

In addition, Abode participants will appear in our yearly Journey Home Video, sharing their stories of experiencing homelessness and how Abode helped them with their individual journeys into a home.

We will release more details about the Journey Home Breakfast in the coming months on our website at www.abode.org — as well as on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms.

For more information about serving as a Journey Home Breakfast table captain or sponsor, please contact Donor Support at donors@abode.org or 510-459-1663.

We look forward to seeing you in person at the fundraiser on March 1!

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Subaru Holiday This holiday season you can get a new car and give to Abode — all with one easy step.

That is because of the generosity of Premier Subaru of Fremont, which has selected Abode again for its Share the Love Event.

Here’s how it works: Premier Subaru will donate $350 to us for every vehicle leased or bought from its Fremont location between now and Jan. 2, 2024.

The funds raised from Subaru’s Share the Love Event will go a long way toward helping us provide housing and services to families and individuals in need. We are thrilled that Premier Subaru has chosen us again to benefit from its annual charity program.

For more information on how to participate in the program by leasing or buying a Premier Subaru vehicle, go online at premiersubaruoffremont.com.

Thank you again, Premier Subaru of Fremont, for choosing to share your generous gift with Abode this holiday season!

EXECUTIVE TEAM Louis Chicoine, Chief Executive Officer Vivian Wan, Chief Operating Officer John Reiber, Chief Financial Officer Jon White, Chief Real Estate Officer Juana Nunley, Chief Property Management Officer Bronwyn Hogan, Vice President of Community Relations Marilyn Lovelace-Grant, Vice President of Talent & Culture Kara Carnahan, Vice President of Programs – Alameda, Napa & San Francisco Counties Katie Fantin, Vice President of Programs – Santa Clara, Santa Cruz & San Mateo Counties Camille Llaguna, Controller – Abode Jenny Zou, Controller – Property Management & Housing Development

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Tarrah Henrie, President Tejas Saraiya, Vice President Darrian White, Secretary John Lee, Treasurer Rohit Angle John Barton Vishnu Beri Sameer Bhasin Ann Danner John Domantay Brian Friss Reshma Inamdar Hassan Khawaja Maryann Leshin Claudine Sipili Ken Smith Lynette Stolarzyk Tom Wasow

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID FREMONT, CA PERMIT NO. 264 40849 Fremont Boulevard Fremont, CA 94538 (510) 657-7409 phone (510) 657-7293 fax www.abode.org info@abode.org

Please remember us in your will.

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