Our purpose: to redefine possible

About Us

Tabernacle Community
Development Corporation (TCDC)

TCDC’s initial focus was on economic development, youth education, and job skill training for unemployed and re-entry members of the community. In its first five years, TCDC successfully executed multiple education and program services.

However, the primary objective has expanded to developing affordable rental units to keep Black families from leaving San Francisco and to build homes for sale that will increase ownership within the Black/African American community.
Today, with an enduring mission to direct positive economic and societal changes in underserved communities where their churches are located, the founders continue to leverage resources, build important community relationships, and create various partnerships through shared efforts and joint ventures.
Collectively, the churches have an impressive history of developing low-cost housing programs, homeownership initiatives, senior housing, and addressing homelessness. Individually, each minister has significant experience with affordable housing development. The five parishes currently own and sponsor over 1,000 units of low-income and senior housing.

The History

30+ year track record of preventing displacement in San Francisco.

We have a history of award-winning developments paired with wraparound services that support our residents — from job training to early childhood education.

We build more than housing.

We build communities.

Our Timeline

Early 1990’s

TCDC’s first joint project was established – Young African American Achievers Program.  This after-school tutoring program serves lower-performing elementary school students.

Late 1990’s

San Francisco’s Mayor, the Honorable Willie L. Brown Jr., called together TCDC and asked them to join forces to address community economic development.

1995

Governor Gray Davis granted TCDC $1.2 million to fund and manage their second project: The Ujimaa Program.  Serving over 400 clients annually, the funds were used to assist in skills training, those transitioning from prison to work, and from chronic unemployment to job placement.

2001

Tabernacle Community Development Corporation was incorporated.

2002

TCDC was granted tax-exempt status becoming a 501(c)(3) organization.  TCDC also collaborated with the San Francisco School Board to form JUMP Academy.

2005

TCDC took the lead in forming NOVA, an ex-offenders and parole support program that collaborated with the San Francisco County Sheriff’s Department and other local ex-offender programs.

2006

TCDC accomplished their first fundraiser gala. Attended by over 800 supporters, they were able to raise over $100,000 for their social service programs.

2007

As part of their economic improvement strategy, TCDC decided to focus on real estate development with an emphasis on below-market-rate and affordable housing units.  This would not only sustain and grow existing social service programs, but also fund new social service programs as well.

Now

TCDC is located in San Francisco’s Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood, and four of the five original founders still serve on the Board of Directors along with other professionals.  Vice President, Calvin Jones Jr., transitioned to glory in 2021.

The TCDC’s primary goal is to provide access to safe, clean, and reasonably priced housing — rentals and homes to buy — for working families.

Targeting Black families, one important mission of the TCDC is to increase the number of African Americans who own their own homes. It will use a variety of diverse marketing and outreach strategies — both new media and traditional — to achieve its goals and objectives.

TCDC Vision

To help preserve the cultural diversity of San Francisco by:

A) Providing economic and social service programs targeting ethnically diverse low- and moderate-income residents in the Bayview-Hunters Point, Ocean-Merced, Ingleside, and Western Addition/Fillmore neighborhoods.
B) Fostering and providing programmatic opportunities aimed at stopping the mass departure of Black families and other disadvantaged people from leaving San Francisco.
C) Enhancing cultural, economic, and social communities through the development of clean, affordable housing designed to ensure safe, healthy, and vibrant neighborhoods.

TCDC Mission

To stimulate growth in the community by developing residential, commercial, and industrial projects through:

A) Promoting business development within targeted areas. B) Initiating coordinated health, education, and social service support programs designed to empower impacted residents. C) Leveraging collective resources to empower those who, without support, might otherwise be displaced.

A Message From Us

We, The Tabernacle, began with several pastors and their churches from different denominations coming together during the Lenten season — from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunrise — rotating fellowship between the churches.

A special thanks to Rev. Edgar Boyd, former Senior Pastor of Bethel AME, for his leadership during this time. Out of this fellowship came a desire to seek the welfare of the city, with a special focus on the African American community.

I’d like to personally thank Dr. James McCray, Executive Director, and his team for the outstanding job they are doing as we move into the future.

I also want to thank the TCDC Board of Directors for allowing me to serve as their President. We look to the future with great optimism and hope.

In His Service, 

Bishop Donald E. Green

Dear Partner,

The clarion call is enduring: “Seek the welfare of the city” (Jeremiah 29:7). The proposed strategy is timeless and profoundly relevant today: “Build houses and live in them” (v. 5).
The Tabernacle has sought corporate faithfulness to the call and responsiveness to the agenda of building whole and healthy communities in San Francisco and beyond.
With this message, we celebrate the presence and work of the Spirit through our desire to reverse the out-migration of African Americans from the city, and our hope to enable families to gain ownership and build wealth.
With every page of this booklet, we rejoice in the support and partnership of so many. Thank you! Thank you!

Sincerely,
Dr. James McCray

Meet the People Behind TCDC

Our dedicated team is made up of passionate professionals and community leaders committed to building stronger neighborhoods through service, innovation, and collaboration.

Learn More →

Our Partners