After 34 Years In The Inner Sunset, Family House Prepares For Mission Bay Move

After 34 Years In The Inner Sunset, Family House Prepares For Mission Bay MovePhoto: Caitlin Harrington/Hoodline
Caitlin Harrington
Published on March 19, 2015

Since 1981, Family House has been a home-away-from-home for low-income families with children who are cancer patients at UCSF Medical Center in the Inner Sunset. But when construction is completed on the organization’s new $42 million building at UCSF Mission Bay in 2016, Family House (for which, full disclosure, the author has worked as a volunteer) will move across town to its new home so it can house patients and families utilizing the new UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, which opened in February.

Prior to Family House’s founding in 1981, CEO Alexandra Morgan said many families stayed in expensive boarding houses, slept in their cars or entered a lottery for a chance to sleep on the floors of conference rooms. Dr. Arthur Ablin, his wife, Debbie, and a few associates founded Family House’s first location at Irving and 2nd Avenue.

Family House's first location accommodated 10 families for the duration of their child’s treatment, free of charge. In 2002, the organization opened a second location at 10th Avenue with room for 24 additional families. Clients are referred by UCSF social workers and must live at least 50 miles away, although some have come from as far away as Ethiopia, Israel and Taiwan. A registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, Family House serves more than 2,000 families each year and operates near 100 percent of its capacity.

The new Nancy and Stephen Grand Family House (courtesy Family House)

Even today, some families who can’t find accommodations through Family House “sleep in their cars,” said Morgan. “There’s a Ronald McDonald House inside the [Benioff Children’s] hospital with ten rooms, so they can stay there for up to five days," she said. "They sleep in the waiting rooms.” While construction on the new dormitory is underway, residents receive Lyft and taxi vouchers to travel between Mission Bay and the Inner Sunset.

Named after two local philanthropists, the new Nancy and Stephen Grand Family House at Mission Bay will have 80 bedrooms, “and since the new hospital is already bursting at the seams with patients, our facility will probably fill up right away,” Morgan said.  

The new facility will have consultation rooms, private bathrooms and 2-bedroom suites for families with teenagers who may want more privacy, as well as a 3,200-square-foot outdoor courtyard and play area. According to Morgan, “most of our families are from small towns and rural areas, so coming to a city that is as congested and busy as San Francisco is a huge challenge.”

Family House aims to create a sense of normalcy for residents; they hold birthday and holiday parties, maintain community kitchens, help with car repairs and provide gas and Safeway cards. Residents may take part in craft projects, play video games, browse the House’s library, or receive passes to local museums or the San Francisco Zoo.

Hoodline/Caitlin Harrington

“We try to do whatever we can to help ease the burden that families are carrying in facing their kids’ cancer treatment,” said Morgan, who said the neighborhood has played a large role in helping foster a sense of community. “I can’t say enough about how wonderful our neighbors are.”

Local businesses like Arizmendi Bakery and Amazing Fantasy offer Family House residents everything from clothes to comic books to free or reduced-cost meals to free haircuts. Reliable Rexall donates baskets each year for Easter, and neighbors regularly volunteer, donate goods and money, and support the nonprofit in many different ways, said Morgan.

The fundraising goal for the new building is $42 million, with $2 million left to go. And though the organization has listed its Irving Street property for sale, it plans to hold onto the 10th Avenue house and is in talks with UCSF to convert into a guesthouse for adult patients.

Family House relies solely on donations. To volunteer or donate, visit their website or contact Susan Neff, Director of Development at (415) 476-9568.