Mayor Lurie Appoints Doug Shoemaker to Housing Authority Board of Commissioners

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today appointed Doug Shoemaker to the Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco. Having served as director of the Mayor’s Office of Housing and president of Mercy Housing California, the state’s largest nonprofit affordable housing developer, Shoemaker enters this new role with more than 30 years of experience as an expert in affordable housing, community development, and the intersection of health and housing.

Mayor Lurie also thanked outgoing chair Joaquín Torres, the city’s assessor-recorder, for 12 years serving as president of the commission. During his tenure, the number of San Francisco families and individuals housed by the authority increased by 20%, now serving 16,545 households and more than 30,000 individuals.

“Doug Shoemaker brings unmatched experience and a lifelong commitment to affordable housing and the families who benefit from it to the Housing Authority. I look forward to working with him to ensure the next generation of San Franciscans can afford to raise their kids here,” said Mayor Lurie. “Thank you to Joaquín Torres for more than a decade of service to the thousands of San Franciscans who live in public housing. The Housing Authority has grown successfully under Joaquín’s leadership, and we appreciate his dedication to the diverse communities it serves.”

"I'm honored to succeed Joaquin Torres on the Housing Authority Commission. I share the Mayor and Joaquín’s passion for affordable housing and look forward to assisting the staff in navigating these difficult times,” said Shoemaker. “It's hard to overstate the importance of the San Francisco Housing Authority in our city, and I appreciate the opportunity to help the commission safeguard these vital resources.”

“Doug brings the experience necessary—in housing and community development, finance and operations—to address the toughest challenges facing the Housing Authority and the diverse people it serves,” said Torres. “Most importantly, he centers the human experience in his considerations and decision-making. He understands the complex needs of residents, property owners, and managers and knows that through a committed and coordinated approach, San Francisco can deliver on its promise to build a better future for its residents.”

Doug Shoemaker most recently served as president of Mercy Housing California, California’s largest nonprofit affordable housing developer. In this role, he oversaw the completion of more than 6,000 affordable homes and led a 3,500-unit development pipeline across major markets including the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Sacramento. Shoemaker successfully led a $45 million capital campaign for a new community center and gym and launched a $47 million land acquisition fund. Earlier in his career, Shoemaker directed the Mayor’s Office of Housing under Mayor Gavin Newsom, where he led critical redevelopment initiatives such as HOPE SF and the rezoning of industrial corridors to create over 10,000 homes. He has served on numerous advisory boards, including the California Interagency Council on Homelessness and the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR).