Since 1999, LIIF has championed San Francisco’s early education providers through the Child Care Facility Fund. This program has provided critical resources to expand and preserve child care slots for low-income families. With skyrocketing housing costs, LIIF and the San Francisco Department of Early Childhood identified an urgent need for family child care (FCC) providers: access to permanent, stable housing that benefits their businesses and the families they serve.
To address this need, LIIF launched the FCC Facility Acquisition program in 2024. The program offers down payment assistance grants to FCC providers, enabling them to purchase homes where they can live and operate their businesses. This innovative approach not only stabilizes high-quality child care but also empowers providers — who are predominantly women of color — with the opportunity to build generational wealth.
In July 2024, LIIF celebrated a milestone with the program’s first client, Norma Zavaleta, a longtime child care provider in San Francisco’s Portola neighborhood. With a $100,000 grant from the FCC Facility Acquisition program, Norma achieved her dream of homeownership. This move has preserved eight child care slots, created two new staff positions, and enabled Norma to expand her facility to serve even more children next year.
Reflecting on her journey, Norma shared:
“My name is Norma Zavaleta, and I have been an ECE provider for 20 years. I am incredibly grateful to LIIF’s FCC Facility Acquisition program for helping me achieve my dream of owning a home with expanded space for the children in my care. Thanks to this program, I’ve been able to expand my business and increase the impact I have on my community. Additionally, my family is now able to have a separate living space, which is improving our quality of life. I am so proud of this accomplishment, and it wouldn’t have been possible without LIIF’s support.”
Norma’s story exemplifies the program’s transformative impact. Since launching, LIIF has pre-approved eight additional FCC providers who are now on the path to homeownership. By creating partnerships with FHL banks in the Bay Area, LIIF ensures providers have access to low-interest mortgages, paired with grants that make homeownership attainable.
“At LIIF, we are deeply committed to creating opportunities that empower providers with the resources they need to build thriving businesses and homeownership,” said LIIF President Kimberly Latimer-Nelligan. “This initiative is a prime example of how we can increase the supply of child care in communities while simultaneously helping small-business owners build assets and wealth through property ownership. We are grateful to our partner, the San Francisco Department of Early Childhood, for collaborating on this innovative approach that addresses both local child care needs and supports long-term economic stability for providers.”
LIIF’s FCC Facility Acquisition program demonstrates a solution to systemic challenges, keeping FCC providers rooted in their communities while preserving affordable child care for families. As more providers achieve homeownership, they pave the way for stronger, more resilient neighborhoods and brighter futures for the children they serve.
I am incredibly grateful to LIIF’s FCC Facility Acquisition program for helping me achieve my dream of owning a home with expanded space for the children in my care.
FCC Acquisition Client Norma Zavaleta