This year marks the 15th anniversary of the nonprofit organization that was founded in June of 1989. At a recent annual fundraising event called The September Summit, industry leaders gathered to commemorate the occasion by celebrating the thousands of people whose lives have been changed over the years thanks to dedicated volunteers and support from the organization.

The Housing Industry Foundation is composed of apartment owners, builders, Realtors, mortgage bankers, accountants, attorneys, insurance companies and others associated with housing in the Bay Area. The group's mission is to help individuals and families either remain in or return to stable housing and to assist with special housing projects and renovations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. In addition, HIF supports efforts to identify long-term solutions to the lack of affordable housing in local communities.

Since its inception, HIF has assisted more than 2,600 families and individuals with emergency housing assistance grants totaling more than $1.8 million. The organization has also worked on 50 rehab projects and renovations over the years, providing more than $1.3 million in cash and in-kind donations for shelters and other organizations in the Bay Area.

Locally, Realtors from Silicon Valley Association of Realtors support the Housing Industry Foundation through an annual fundraising event called Home for the Holidays. Last year, local Realtors raised more than $100,000 in support of homeless prevention and affordable-housing solutions.

It all started with a vision and the commitment of four of the biggest names in the housing industry: Jim Morely, California Real Estate Management Corp.; Duncan Matteson, The Matteson Companies; Burt Avery, Avery Construction; and Rick Alhona, R.W. Zukin Corporation. Duncan Matteson reminisced about that first meeting held in Jim Morely's backyard in Saratoga.

"We got together to talk about how we could give something back to the community. We formed the Housing Industry Foundation with a twofold purpose. We wanted to assist people who needed housing during hardships, and we wanted to show city officials and the general community that the apartment industry cared about people and not just about making profits," said Matteson.

Matteson recalled the first annual fundraiser drew only a few hundred people. This year's event was attended by more than 800 people from all aspects of the housing industry.

"It has become the single biggest networking event of the year in our industry," Matteson said. "We've been able to demonstrate, not just talk about, how we are concerned about the community in which our properties and businesses are located."

In addition to monetary donations, the founders wanted to use the expertise and resources within the industry, including in-kind donations and material and labor, to help improve living conditions and provide housing for local shelters.

Today, the projects range from providing a few needed furnishings to major renovations of buildings and landscaping. One of HIF's primary rehab projects during the past two years has been the renovation of a 48-unit apartment building in East Palo Alto in conjunction with the Daughters of Charity. This year HIF also provided furnishings for the new Housing on the Hill, a drug recovery program for women with young children run by Valley Medical Center, and the new First Step for Families, the emergency shelter run by Shelter Network of San Mateo County.

In addition to providing the resources and manpower for renovations, HIF also works with the American Red Cross to extend the length of time individuals or families who have lost their home in a natural disaster can remain in a motel while searching for replacement housing.

According to Executive Director Debbie Wade, the legacy and vision of the four founders of the Housing Industry Foundation carries on today.

"We have always followed two basic premises in developing our programs. We maximize our capabilities by leveraging cash contributions with donations of material and labor, and we build upon what is already done in the community rather than duplicate existing services or procedures," said Wade, who points out that unlike many organizations, HIF can act quickly without a great deal of paperwork when there is an urgent need for funds.

The Emergency Housing Grants are at the core of the Housing Industry Foundation's homeless prevention program. Wade, who has been with the organization for 12 years, works in collaboration with a network of social services agencies to supply grants of up to $1,000 that go to low-income individuals and families threatened with homelessness or uninhabitable conditions.

"These grants may be used for a variety of housing expenses, including rent, mortgage, utilities and certain repairs. The situation must be due to a recent unforeseen emergency. During the past year we've made 273 grants for a total of $208,579 to assist 366 adults and 465 children," Wade said.

While the requests are often heartbreaking, Wade is always gratified by the results. A recent letter she received from a family whose life changed overnight due to a severe car accident sums up how the organization makes a difference in people's lives.

"It was a miracle. This grant saved us from being homeless. It helped us to hold onto a home that we love and gave me the time to get a job. I had nowhere else to turn. Keep up the great work."

For more information about the Housing Industry Foundation, visit www.HIFinfo.org.

Local Realtors are holding a Home for the Holidays fundraiser to benefit the Housing Industry Foundation on Oct. 14. For more information, contact Silicon Valley Association of Realtors at 650.949.9115.