Defying Critics, Unique Affordable Housing Project Opens

On October 19, the Tenderloin Housing Clinic will mark the official opening of the Galvin Apartments, a 56-unit apartment building at 785 Brannan named in honor of Sister Bernie Galvin, founder of Religious Witness With Homeless People. The building is unique, since a private developer covered the entire cost of land acquisition, construction and permanent rental subsidies. The Galvin is forever affordable without any public funds, while serving tenants of very low incomes. As non-profit housing groups are being forced to give tenants steep rent increases, and the federal government is abandoning the Section 8 program, one would think that San Francisco city officials would be looking to replicate the Galvin model. But personal and political issues have prevented this.