Salesforce CEO aims to end family homelessness in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- There are more than 1,000 homeless families living in San Francisco right now, but a famous Bay Area CEO and philanthropist wants to all but eliminate the problem in just a few short years by finding housing for families in need.

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Salesforce CEO and philanthropist Marc Benioff is actually challenging others to match his $10 million donation to make family homelessness a thing of the past. "There are zip codes in San Francisco that are destinations for success, others a destination for failure," Benioff said. "We want to make sure every child in San Francisco has the same equal opportunity."

Benioff was surprised to learn about the 1,800 homeless children that attend San Francisco public schools.

He's teaming up with San Francisco for the Heading Home campaign. A $30 million partnership with Hamilton Families, an organization already providing housing assistance to families. The money could help 800 families find homes.

"We figure out what rent they can afford, vs. what they pay now," said Director of the Department of Homelessness and Supplemental Housing. "Provide them with a subsidy to close the gap."

Jesenia Martinez and her 5-year-old son just got housing through the program. "I was living home to home," she said. "I just wanted to have Christmas with my son in our own home."

The goal is to eliminate family homelessness by 2019.