October 21, 2011
Strategic Development Solutions President and CEO Debbie La Franchi presented one of SDS’ projects that helps the homeless and their families at a Congressional Hearing in Washington, DC. The New Markets Tax Credit Coalition invited Ms. La Franchi to speak to Senators, Congressmen and their representatives to highlight the positive work of the NMTC program and encourage them to continue funding it.
SDS’ subsidiary, National New Markets Fund, invested $15 million in NMTCs into Haven for Hope of Bexar County, San Antonio, TX. Haven for Hope is the largest, most comprehensive Homeless Transformation Campus in the country. Its vision is to provide a range of social services addressing the needs of San Antonio’s homeless community (25,000 annually) by integrating many critical services into one mixed-use campus setting. Nearly half of the homeless population in San Antonio is comprised of families with children. The 37-acre site is a formerly depressed industrial area that now houses 15 buildings and courtyards. The $103.7 million project was funded through a public private partnership.
Ms. La Franchi also met individually with Members of Congress and their staff during her time on Capitol Hill.
