Here to Stay
Keeping the Mission home for generations.
Real estate is our tool. Housing stability, economic mobility, and community power are the goals. MEDA’s Community Real Estate program transforms buildings into lasting community assets—keeping Mission families housed, rooted, and thriving.
MEDA’s Community Real Estate (CRE) program was launched in summer 2014 as an urgent response to the displacement crisis hitting San Francisco’s Mission District. Once a supportive home for working-class families, the Mission has become one of the most unaffordable neighborhoods in the nation. Between 2000 and 2019, the Latino population dropped by over 9,000 residents—nearly one in three—due to eviction, rising rents, and a lack of stable housing options.
MEDA is reversing this trend. We are using our decades of experience to keep low-income families rooted in place—while building pathways for them to thrive.
Our Community Real Estate work goes beyond buildings. We create sustainable community assets that stabilize neighborhoods and support long-term economic mobility. With a focus on the Mission District, we develop 100% affordable housing, acquire and rehabilitate vulnerable buildings, and ensure lasting affordability through community-based ownership and stewardship.
From site identification to long-term asset management, our team leads every phase of the development process. We:
- Establish a bold, inclusive vision for the future of the Mission District
- Prioritize green design and financially sustainable operations
- Integrate MEDA’s wraparound services into properties—like financial capability, workforce, and small business support—to promote resident success
CRE Footprint
Click to expand
Community Real Estate Portfolio
Residential and commercial units.
Total Units
New Affordable Housing Units
Preservation: Small Sites
RAD Public Housing
Nonprofit Center Units
Total Units in the Pipeline
How we stay rooted
Preserving, reclaiming, and building in the Mission
Explore MEDA’s housing strategies to see our impact in action. From new construction to preservation and rehabilitation, every project reflects our commitment to affordable homes and community belonging.
New affordable housing developments
MEDA develops new multifamily buildings that are 100% affordable, with a focus on serving low-income and working-class families. These new construction projects are thoughtfully designed to promote housing stability, sustainability, and community vibrancy. All include ground-floor space for small businesses, nonprofits, or early childhood centers that reflect the cultural fabric of the Mission.
Preservation: Small Sites program
MEDA acquires and rehabilitates small apartment buildings—typically 5 to 25 units—as part of San Francisco’s Small Sites Program. This strategy is designed to stabilize long-term tenants who are at risk of displacement and to remove properties from the speculative market. Once acquired, these buildings are permanently affordable and stewarded by community-based ownership, ensuring that residents can stay rooted in the Mission for generations to come.
Rehabilitation: Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD)
Through the federal Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, MEDA has taken over former public housing sites in the Mission District to bring critical improvements to aging buildings while maintaining affordability. We complete major renovations, enhance resident protections, and provide onsite support services tailored to the community. RAD is a key strategy for stabilizing families and protecting deeply affordable housing at risk of deterioration or privatization.
A Thriving local economy
Our progress. Our promise.
MEDA activates the commercial spaces in its real estate portfolio to support local small businesses and nonprofits that reflect and serve the Mission District. These ground-floor spaces are more than storefronts—they’re hubs of culture, care, and economic vitality.
We prioritize tenants whose work aligns with our mission: family-serving entrepreneurs, culturally rooted enterprises, and nonprofit organizations advancing opportunity and stability. This approach not only supports a resilient local economy: it also advances cultural placekeeping, ensuring the people and institutions that define the Mission can remain and thrive.
While ensuring the financial sustainability of our buildings, we’re equally focused on uplifting the businesses and organizations that make the neighborhood unique. By keeping commercial space accessible and mission-aligned, MEDA helps protect the cultural fabric of the Mission and preserve it for generations to come.
MEDA’s real estate strategies have stabilized housing for 3,612 renters—and counting—through permanent affordability and long-term stewardship
