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Our Mission
Every day, HomeFirst works to end homelessness by providing a full spectrum of services to help people find a home, improve their lives, and stay housed.
Our Vision
We envision a community in which everyone has a home.
Defined by Our Values
Our values are an ever-present reminder of our “why.” They are behind every decision we make, every program we build, and every result we deliver. In a world of growing complexity, they give us clarity on what matters, and road maps for how we move forward.
Kindness
We act with empathy toward others.
Passion
We ignite change to fulfill our mission.
Excellence
We deliver exceptional service to our communities.
Our Story
In 1980, we opened our doors as Emergency Housing Consortium to serve the most vulnerable in downtown San Jose. We quickly learned people needed more than emergency shelter—they needed a home. And the support, stability, and tools to rebuild their lives. From that core belief, HomeFirst was born.
Over four decades, we've grown into trusted leaders and innovators equipped to respond to the challenging needs of our unsheltered community.
Instead of screening people out, we have always welcomed everyone in. Our compassionate, inclusive, and evidence-based approach has been deeply embedded in our work since day one.
45 Years of Hope, Housing, and HomeFirst
Since 1980, HomeFirst has walked beside people experiencing homelessness and those on the brink of it. Let's look back at how it all began.