[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 29, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO FRAN WAGSTAFF ON THE OCCASION OF HER 20 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP 
                 OF THE MID-PENINSULA HOUSING COALITION

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                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 29, 2003

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American and 
most distinguished Californian, Fran Wagstaff, for her 20 years of 
leadership as the executive director of the Mid-Peninsula Housing 
Coalition, MPHC, of Redwood City, CA.
  Fran Wagstaff joined the Mid-Peninsula Housing Coalition in 1983 and 
since that time she has become known as the premier person and leader 
in affordable housing in the 14th Congressional District of California 
and throughout our region. With Fran Wagstaff's leadership, Mid-
Peninsula Housing Coalition is considered the ``gold standard'' for 
providing affordable housing for the people of San Mateo, Santa Clara, 
Santa Cruz, Alameda, Monterey, Solano, and Contra Costa Counties in 
California. Today, thousands of families who work locally but would 
otherwise be priced out of the local housing market have safe, 
attractive, affordable housing.
  Fran Wagstaff has been responsible for the development of over 80 
affordable housing projects, creating more than 2,500 new affordable 
housing units. Beyond the creation of new housing, under her leadership 
MPHC has been able to acquire and rehabilitate another 2,500 units for 
low-income individuals and families. Fran Wagstaff and her team have 
also created six facilities for homeless families, ensuring that 
everyone has a place to live. Her work and her vision helped to create 
Shelter Network of San Mateo County, a highly respected nonprofit 
organization which operates local homeless shelters and programs to 
help people end the cycle of homelessness. She's also been a leader in 
the effort to develop a housing trust fund for San Mateo County.
  Before joining MPHC, Fran served as executive director of the 
Community Housing Improvement Program, CHIP, a private nonprofit 
housing agency that provides a variety of housing services to low-
income households in predominantly rural areas. Through her leadership, 
CHIP was able to help thousands of people find a place to live, whether 
it was through the conversion of vacant buildings, the development of 
cooperatives for low-income families or the rehabilitation of existing 
homes.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this great 
and good woman. Fran Wagstaff is one of the most exceptional, effective 
and respected leaders in our community and through her commitment and 
professionalism, she has made our communities and our country a better 
place for all.

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