Hearts for Homeless Honored with San Mateo County's 2026 Housing Heroes Award

Menlo Park nonprofit recognized for its commitment to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and housing instability in San Mateo County.

Hearts for Homeless (H4H) is proud to share that we have been named one of the recipients of San Mateo County's 19th Annual Housing Heroes Awards. The awards honor community partners who help county residents with mental health and/or substance use conditions find or maintain stable housing.

The awards ceremony took place on October 21, 2026, at the Redwood Shores Public Library, bringing together more than 100 attendees, including county representatives, nonprofit organizations, service providers, and community partners.

Jack Fuller, H4H Founder & CEO, accepted the award on behalf of the organization. "I knew we had been nominated, but I honestly never expected us to receive the award," said Fuller. "This recognition belongs to our entire H4H team and everyone who has helped make our work possible." He added, "It shows that people throughout the county recognize and value our program. It also means we need to work even harder to build on this momentum and expand our impact."

Addressing Barriers to Housing Stability

Through its client-centered programs and advocacy services, H4H helps individuals navigate complex social service systems, access essential resources, and overcome obstacles related to identification documents, technology, employment, transportation, and other critical needs. H4H's programs include MESA (Mental and Emotional Support Advocate), which pairs trained volunteers with individuals for one-on-one advocacy and support; Connect With Your Soul (CWYS), recurring sessions focused on emotional and social wellbeing; and Digital Connect, its digital access program.

Since 2022, H4H has served more than 700 individuals and mobilized nearly 10,000 volunteer hours. H4H is currently seeking volunteers to serve as Mental and Emotional Support Advocates (MESAs), who receive training to provide one-on-one support to individuals working toward housing stability. To learn more, visit www.hearts4homeless.org/volunteer.

H4H is grateful for this recognition and looks forward to strengthening its partnerships to serve more residents facing barriers to housing.