As we wrap up our 35th year and step into our 36th, we’re guided by a theme that’s carried us through every challenge and success: 
The Power of Us: 35 Years of Transforming Housing Through Collaboration. 

For 35 years, the San Diego Housing Federation has worked to ensure that everyone in our region has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. One of the most transformative programs advancing this mission is the Homeless-Experienced Advocacy & Leadership (HEAL) Network, which empowers people with lived experience of homelessness to lead, advocate, and shape housing policy across San Diego County.

The story begins in 1992, just two years after SDHF—then known as the Nonprofit Federation for Housing and Community Development—was founded. The first Annual Conference was a modest, single-day event featuring a keynote address, workshops, an exhibit area, and a networking reception. It was a humble beginning, but it carried a powerful vision: to create a community where everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home. 

For 35 years, the San Diego Housing Federation has worked to ensure that every person in our region has access to safe, stable, and affordable housing. Our story is one of persistence, partnership, and progress—shaping the policies and investments that make homes possible for thousands of San Diegans.

As the San Diego Housing Federation celebrates 35 years, we also celebrate the evolution of one of our most impactful and people-centered initiatives: the Supportive Housing and Resident Services Academy (SHRSA).

SHRSA was created in 2024 through the merger of two longstanding networks—Resident Services Support Network (RSSN) and the Supportive Housing Learning Network (SHLN)—each with its own rich history of supporting professionals on the frontlines of affordable and supportive housing.

Together, they form a unified program dedicated to training, peer support, and shared learning across property management and resident services staff in our region.

In Spring 2021, the San Diego Housing Federation partnered with MiraCosta College to tackle a critical challenge facing the region: the growing need for skilled, compassionate property managers in affordable housing. With the leadership of Michelle Sites (VP of SoCal Affordable at CONAM Management) and Erica Duran (Department Chair for Short-Term Vocational at MiraCosta College), two new courses were developed that summer tailored to train and uplift individuals often underrepresented in the field.

The journey down the yellow brick road to affordable housing in San Diego has been paved with dedication, resilience, and the unwavering spirit of community. For the San Diego Housing Federation (SDHF), this journey has been celebrated annually since 1994, when the first seeds of the Ruby Awards were sown during their annual conference. Two years later, in 1996, the Rubies blossomed into their own standalone event, marking a significant turning point in recognizing the vital work being done.

For 35 years, the San Diego Housing Federation has been committed to building a future where everyone—regardless of race, income, or background—has access to safe, affordable housing. One of the most enduring pillars of this mission is our unwavering support for Fair Housing.

On March 25th, SDHF staff, board members, affordable housing advocates, and supporters came together at San Diego City Council, where Councilmember Stephen Whitburn and Council President Joe LaCava brought forward a proclamation officially declaring March 27th as "San Diego Housing Federation Day." On March 27th, we gathered to celebrate the San Diego Housing Federation’s 35th Anniversary—a milestone that reflects decades of dedication to creating affordable housing and fostering stronger, more equitable communities.