About Us

The Filipino Community Development Corporation (FCDC) was born in August 2017 out of collective action, uniting tenant leaders, social service professionals, attorneys, and community organizations to address the root causes of poverty and displacement. Grounded in the Filipino cultural value of kapwa, a deep sense of shared humanity and mutual responsibility, our work centers the needs of those most impacted by the housing crisis.

Long before FCDC’s founding, Filipino households in SoMa and the Tenderloin quietly opened their doors to new immigrants and community members in need. This spirit of care and kinship drives us to push for systemic change, where housing is not a privilege but a right. We believe transitional and permanent housing, paired with wraparound services, is essential to preventing and ending homelessness.

Our early organizing efforts included conducting a comprehensive housing survey of 253 Filipino residents in SoMa in partnership with Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation and the 5M Project. These voices shaped our vision and helped root our work in lived experience. We also developed a historical timeline of Filipino presence in San Francisco to ensure our mission honors the long legacy of resistance and resilience, from early Manilatown to the I-Hotel eviction struggle of the 1970s.

As Filipino Americans, one of the highest-earning ethnic groups in the U.S., we see both privilege and responsibility. The global Filipino diaspora has long supported families and economies through remittances. Today, we must also lead locally, building power to protect communities, preserve culture, and expand justice.

Over the years, we’ve built trusted partnerships with groups like the Mint Mall Residents Association, Canon Kip Senior Center, TFCA, PSRC, West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center, and others. We’ve helped preserve vital affordable housing sites, advocated for citywide initiatives like Proposition I and the Dignity Fund, and launched grassroots programs that blend housing justice with community-building, arts, and leadership development.

Our reach now extends beyond San Francisco, throughout the Bay Area, Southern California, Canada, and the Philippines. Across generations and borders, we are creating solutions rooted in solidarity, culture, and a shared belief that no one should be left behind.