December 1, 2025

As one of Silicon Valley’s most influential philanthropists and a lifelong champion for housing justice, John A. Sobrato has spent decades supporting solutions that address the root causes of homelessness. His leadership through both The Sobrato Organization and Sobrato Philanthropies has helped shape the region’s response to housing insecurity, emphasizing collaboration, innovation, and the belief that safe, stable housing is a fundamental human right. In this conversation with DignityMoves, Sobrato reflects on how his experience in real estate has informed his approach to housing access, why interim supportive housing is a critical part of the continuum, and what it will take to address homelessness at scale across California meaningfully.

DignityMoves: You’ve long been a leader in addressing street homelessness across the Bay Area. How has your perspective on housing as a foundational need evolved?

JS: Over the years, I’ve come to see housing not just as shelter, but as the bedrock of dignity, health, and opportunity. Housing insecurity remains one of the greatest challenges facing Silicon Valley. The region still lacks more than 118,000 housing units affordable to people earning below 120% of the Area Median Income, and 173,000 households in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties are rent burdened. Families with young children are especially vulnerable—18,100 households with kids under six spend more than they can afford just to stay housed. Nearly 370,000 San José residents live in neighborhoods already at risk of displacement.

Stable housing is the necessary foundation for economic mobility and community belonging. When families are forced to leave, they lose not only their homes but also their communities, schools, and support systems. The scale of homelessness in our region has made it clear that we need both immediate relief and long-term pathways to housing security.

I believe that housing is a human right, and our community must rally around solutions that restore hope and stability. My work in Silicon Valley has shown me that stable housing is the starting point for addressing so many other challenges—education, employment, health, and economic mobility.

John Sobrato joins Mayor Matt Mahan, DignityMoves CEO and Founder Elizabeth Funk, and project partners at the groundbreaking of a new interim housing site on the Salvation Army campus in San José.

DignityMoves: Real estate has been central to your professional life and your philanthropy. How has your experience in the field shaped the way you think about housing access?

JS: Absolutely—real estate has been central to my life and my family’s legacy. It has given me a deep understanding of the complexities and costs involved in building and maintaining housing, especially in the Bay Area. Through this work, I’ve seen firsthand how challenging it can be to deliver housing at the scale and speed our communities need.

I’ve also seen how innovative approaches—like public-private partnerships—can accelerate timelines and lower costs. For example, unique collaborations such as the Bay Area Housing Innovation Fund (BAHIF), which includes the Housing Accelerator Fund, Sobrato Philanthropies, Destination: Home, and Apple not only speed up the creation of affordable homes in the greater Bay Area but also directly support strong communities by helping essential workers such as nurses, teachers, first responders, and others stay in their communities.

My experience has taught me that we must leverage every available resource, including underutilized private land, to create affordable and supportive housing. It’s not enough to build; we must build smarter and faster, always with the goal of serving those most in need.

John Sobrato tours the Cherry Avenue interim housing site during the construction phase with Co-founder & Chief Real Estate Officer Joanne Price.

DignityMoves: You’ve supported many solutions over the years. What stands out to you about DignityMoves’ approach?

JS: DignityMoves is pioneering a model that brings people indoors quickly, with dignity and privacy. Your interim supportive housing communities offer private rooms and wraparound services, meeting people where they are and helping them transition out of homelessness. This approach recognizes that stability and safety are the first steps toward rebuilding a person’s life.

What stands out to me is your commitment to collaboration—working with cities, nonprofits, and private partners to identify underutilized land and build cost-effective, scalable solutions. This mirrors our approach at The Sobrato Organization, where we believe that lasting change requires the public and private sectors working together, aligning resources, and building shared solutions. For example, by strengthening public-private partnerships that focus on local and regional impact, we’re able to scale our reach and inspire others to act.

I also want to specifically acknowledge the leadership bench strength at DignityMoves. You have exceptional, experienced, and passionate leaders who are deeply embedded in the communities you serve and who understand the importance of working in close collaboration with government officials and community leaders to get things done. I have been pleasantly surprised by the speed and agility your organization has shown in tackling some of our community’s greatest challenges, and it has been incredibly rewarding to be part of delivering solutions.

DignityMoves: Our communities offer private rooms with on-site services and are designed to bring people indoors quickly and restore dignity. Why do you believe models like this are an essential part of the housing continuum right now?

JS: Models like DignityMoves are essential because they fill a critical gap in our housing continuum. They provide immediate, humane shelter for people who would otherwise be on the streets, while also connecting them to permanent housing and supportive services. This combination of safety, dignity, and forward momentum is especially important for those who need stability before they can engage in long-term solutions.

The Via del Oro community in San José is a great example—135 private rooms, on-site services, and a clear pathway to stability. Similarly, the Cherry Avenue interim housing community will provide safe and dignified shelter for hundreds of San José residents each year. These kinds of communities demonstrate how quickly we can bring people indoors when we align resources and prioritize urgent action.

These interim solutions are not just stopgaps; they are a vital part of a broader strategy to break the cycle of homelessness and help people rebuild their lives. By creating spaces that honor dignity and meet immediate needs, we open the door for long-term success.

John Sobrato, alongside Mayor Matt Mahan, partners, and city leaders, at the grand opening of the Cherry Avenue interim housing community in San José. (Photo Credit: Devan Patel/Bay Area News Group)

DignityMoves: Looking ahead, what is your vision for addressing street homelessness at scale in California? What role do you see philanthropy playing in that effort?

JS: My vision is for California to embrace bold, collaborative solutions that leverage public, private, and philanthropic resources and partnerships. Through The Sobrato Organization’s Housing Security Initiative, we’re working to produce new affordable housing, preserve and upgrade existing low-income housing, and advance pro-housing policies locally and regionally. But we know that TSO can’t do this alone.

That’s why we’re bringing in partners such as DignityMoves, BAHIF, Apple, and Destination: Home to scale our impact and inspire others to join the effort. These collaborations demonstrate what’s possible when leaders across sectors commit to shared goals and align their resources.

Philanthropy plays a crucial role not just in funding projects, but in convening partners, advocating for policy change, and piloting new models. We’re still in the early days, and we know we won’t solve the housing crisis in the short term. But we believe that if government, business, nonprofits, and philanthropists all pull together, we can make a lasting difference and ensure that every family has the dignity of a safe, stable home.

DignityMoves: What message would you share with other leaders or philanthropists considering stepping into this work or supporting organizations like DignityMoves?

JS: I would encourage other leaders and philanthropists to step forward boldly. The scale of the challenge is daunting, but the impact of even one project—one community—can be transformative. Every effort brings us closer to ensuring that more of our neighbors have a safe and dignified place to live.

I would also urge them not to wait for perfect solutions. Instead, support innovation, collaboration, and compassion wherever possible. This work requires creativity and the willingness to try new approaches, and philanthropy is uniquely positioned to help make that possible.

Every contribution matters, and together, we can restore dignity and hope to our neighbors in need. I’m proud to support organizations like DignityMoves and encourage others to join in this vital work.

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John Sobrato’s insights underscore the urgency and possibility of addressing street homelessness with compassion, creativity, and shared responsibility. As California continues to face rising housing insecurity, his call for bold, cross-sector collaboration offers a powerful reminder that lasting change requires everyone at the table: government, business, nonprofits, and philanthropy. Organizations like DignityMoves are proving what’s possible when partners unite around a common purpose, and leaders like Sobrato are helping accelerate that momentum. His message is clear: every contribution matters, and together, we can build a future where every person has the dignity and stability of a place to call home.

Read more about John A. Sobrato and his family’s impact through the Sobrato Organization and Sobrato Philanthropies.