In February, the Mercy Housing California (MHC) community suffered the loss of a brilliant and compassionate affordable housing advocate, longtime MHC board member Ford Fish. We hope you will join us in keeping his family in your thoughts.

Ford served on the MHC board for over seven years, bringing forth his passion for ending homelessness and his expertise in real estate. Prior to his retirement, he was the Senior Vice President of Real Estate at Salesforce. He co-chaired MHC’s record-setting fundraising event – Home is Just the Beginning – in 2017 and chaired the MHC Real Estate Committee during a time of unprecedented growth for the organization. Ford and his wife Leticia have been longtime supporters of Mercy Housing and stalwart champions for healthy, inclusive communities in San Francisco and beyond. He is survived by Leticia and their two children, two grandchildren, family, and friends.

In a 2019 interview with Mercy Housing, Ford shared, “I have experienced many proud moments at Mercy Housing but the greatest of all is meeting the residents who move into our homes and seeing the relief and pride on their faces. To hear our residents’ stories of how their lives changed from desperation to joy with solid plans for a better future for themselves and their families gives me great pride and hope for the future … I often hear from people that they want to help but don’t know where to start. I tell them it starts with helping one person find a home.”

Ford was a relentless advocate for the community-led Sunnydale HOPE SF transformation plan, through which MHC is currently revitalizing a vibrant but under-invested former public housing community in San Francisco. With his strong support, MHC launched our Build the Hub Campaign, a fundraising effort to build the neighborhood’s first community center and recreation center providing a rich array of supportive programs for youth. In a testament to his commitment to our work, Ford’s family has asked that donations in his memory be directed towards the Build the Hub Campaign. To make a contribution in Ford Fish’s memory and help MHC build the Hub this year, please click here.

Mercy Housing will forever be grateful to Ford, who helped to create quality, affordable homes and new opportunities for thousands of California families, seniors, and formerly homeless individuals. Each time a child enjoys an enriching after-school program at the Sunnydale Hub, or a community member transitions from homelessness to a safe, supportive home, Ford’s legacy will live on.