Affordable Housing in San Francisco, CA

This page collects the specific programs, agencies, phone numbers, and rules that apply in San Francisco — not generic Section 8 advice. SF has the strongest tenant protections in the country: a Rent Ordinance dating to 1979 that caps annual increases at 60% of CPI, Proposition F (2018) guaranteeing free legal representation to ALL San Francisco tenants facing eviction, just-cause eviction with 16 specific allowable causes, and the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA). The named resources below are where to start.

Emergency Help Tonight in San Francisco

If you need a safe place to sleep tonight or are facing an imminent eviction, these are the local resources to contact first:

• Adult Coordinated Entry (Healthy Streets Operation Center) — central intake for adult shelter beds: (415) 487-3300. Operated through the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH). hsh.sfgov.org/coordinated-entry
• MSC South (Multi-Service Center South) — large emergency shelter for single adults in SoMa
• Navigation Centers — low-barrier shelters that allow guests to bring belongings, partners, and pets. Includes Bayshore, Division Circle, Embarcadero SAFE, and others. Accessed through HSH Coordinated Entry
• Hamilton Families — shelter, housing services, and rapid rehousing for families with children. hamiltonfamilies.org
• Compass Family Services — family shelter and housing case management
• Larkin Street Youth Services — emergency shelter and services for youth 12–24. 24-hour shelter access line: 1-800-669-6196
• La Casa de las Madres — DV shelter and 24-hour crisis line: 1-877-503-1850. Bilingual advocates
• W.O.M.A.N. Inc. — DV support across the Bay Area
• Glide Memorial / St. Anthony's Foundation — meals, day services, and case management in the Tenderloin
• 211 SF — free 24/7 information line for shelters, food, financial assistance, and social services

For a full walkthrough of finding shelter the first night, see our emergency housing tonight guide.

Section 8 in San Francisco: SFHA Status and How to Apply

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in SF are administered by the San Francisco Housing Authority (SFHA). Most SFHA public housing has converted to project-based vouchers via HUD's Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. Current status (checked May 2026):

• The SFHA HCV waitlist is closed as of September 9, 2026 with no scheduled reopening. Watch sfha.org
• DAHLIA — the SF Housing Portal — a single portal for applying to affordable, income-restricted apartments across SF. Listings include BMR (Below Market Rate), inclusionary, and senior housing. This is one of the most accessible paths to affordable housing in SF. housing.sfgov.org
• RAD-Converted Properties: most former SFHA public housing has converted to RAD with project-based vouchers — apply by property. The MOHCD lists current openings
• Project-Based Voucher (PBV) lists at named properties may be open even when the general HCV list is closed
• Other special programs: HUD-VASH for veterans, Mainstream vouchers for non-elderly people with disabilities, MOHCD Local Operating Subsidy Program (LOSP) — separate referral processes
• Apply to neighboring authorities too: Alameda County HCD, San Mateo County HA, Marin County HA, Daly City HA, and California Department of Housing & Community Development run separate lists
• Status check: call SFHA at (415) 715-3280 if you've already applied and need to verify your position on the list

For the national application process, see our step-by-step Section 8 guide and how to find your PHA.

Emergency Rental Assistance in San Francisco (Named Programs)

If you're behind on rent or can't pay this month, these are the local programs currently operating in San Francisco. Funding shifts month to month — always call to confirm current availability:

• San Francisco Emergency Rental Assistance Program (SF ERAP) — covers back rent and limited future rent. Households under 50% AMI can receive up to 6 months of assistance, including 3 months of future rent. Call (415) 653-5744 or email help@sferap.org. sf.gov/renthelp
• Eviction Defense Collaborative (EDC) — front door for SF's Right to Counsel program. Combines free legal representation with rental assistance referrals for tenants served with eviction (unlawful detainer) papers. evictiondefense.org
• SF Bar Association Justice & Diversity Center — Tenant Defense Project — additional free attorneys for Right to Counsel
• Tenderloin Housing Clinic — Eviction Defense Clinic — free legal help for SF tenants. thclinic.org
• Bay Area Legal Aid (BayLegal) — free legal services for low-income tenants in the broader Bay Area
• San Francisco Tenants Union — drop-in counseling for SF tenants. sftu.org
• Catholic Charities CYO of San Francisco — emergency financial assistance, food, immigration legal services. Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, and other language services
• St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco — one-time emergency rental and utility help through local parish conferences
• Salvation Army San Francisco — eviction prevention and utility assistance at multiple corps
• SFHSA (Human Services Agency) Housing programs — CalWORKs Housing Support, Family Stabilization, and HSP (Homelessness Support Program). sfhsa.org/services/housing

Federal pandemic ERA has ended; SF ERAP continues with local funding

The original SF ERAP launched in May 2021 with $90 million in federal pandemic funds. Federal funds are spent, but the City has continued SF ERAP using local and state funding — the program remains active. Don't waste time on closed pandemic-era portals; use the current SF ERAP intake at (415) 653-5744.

Utility assistance: LIHEAP

California's LIHEAP is administered locally. In San Francisco, Self-Help for the Elderly and CFOA Community Action Agency administer LIHEAP. Apply through these agencies or by calling 211. PG&E also offers CARE/FERA discounts.

Tenant Rights in San Francisco & California

San Francisco has arguably the strongest tenant protections in the country — a stack of city ordinances on top of California's already-strong state laws:

• SF Rent Ordinance (1979) — Rent Stabilization: covers most rental units in buildings of 2+ units built before June 13, 1979. Annual allowable rent increases are capped at 60% of CPI. For March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027, the allowable increase is 1.6%. The SF Rent Board publishes the annual figure each spring
• SF Just Cause Eviction Ordinance (SF Admin Code Ch. 37): for covered units, a landlord must have one of 16 specific just causes to evict, including nonpayment after notice, lease violations, owner move-in, withdrawal from rental (Ellis Act), and substantial renovation. Several no-fault evictions trigger relocation payments. sftu.org/justcauses
• Proposition F — Right to Counsel (2018): SF voters passed Prop F to provide free legal representation to ALL San Francisco tenants facing eviction, regardless of income. The Eviction Defense Collaborative is the front door. If you're served with an unlawful detainer (eviction lawsuit), contact EDC immediately — they have just a few days to file your response
• Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA, 2019): qualified nonprofits get a right of first offer and right of first refusal when multi-unit buildings (3+ units) are sold, helping preserve affordable housing. Similar to but narrower than DC's TOPA
• California source-of-income protection (SB 329, 2020): illegal statewide to refuse a Section 8 voucher or other government rental subsidy
• AB 1482 statewide rent cap and just cause: for buildings over 15 years old not covered by SF Rent Ordinance, AB 1482 caps annual increases at 5% + local CPI (max 10%) and requires just cause after 12 months. Newer construction may still be uncovered by both laws
• 3-day notice to pay or quit for nonpayment (Cal. Code of Civil Procedure §1161). California has recently extended some notice periods after AB 2347 and related reforms — verify current periods
• Notice to terminate: 30 days from the tenant; 60 days from landlord for tenancies of 1 year or more (with just cause requirements)
• Security deposit cap: AB 12 (effective July 2024) limits the deposit to 1 month's rent for most landlords. Return with itemized deductions within 21 days of move-out
• Warranty of habitability: Cal. Civil Code §1941.1 imposes specific habitability duties; tenants have repair-and-deduct remedies up to limited amounts. SF Department of Building Inspection handles complaints
• Self-help eviction is illegal: Cal. Civil Code §789.3 with substantial penalties for lockouts, utility shutoffs, and removal of belongings
• Retaliatory eviction is illegal under Cal. Civil Code §1942.5 within 180 days of tenant complaints or organizing
• Fair housing: California's Fair Employment and Housing Act protects more classes than federal law, including source of income, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, and military/veteran status. SF Human Rights Commission handles local intakes

For free legal help: Eviction Defense Collaborative (Right to Counsel), Tenderloin Housing Clinic, SF Bar Association Justice & Diversity Center, San Francisco Tenants Union, and Bay Area Legal Aid. For state-level details, see our California housing resources. If you experience discrimination, see how to file a housing discrimination complaint.

Other Housing Programs in San Francisco

• RAD-converted public housing: most former SFHA public housing has converted to RAD; sites include Sunnydale, Potrero Hill, Hunters View, and Plaza East. Apply by property
• LIHTC (Tax Credit): SF has substantial LIHTC inventory. Search HUD's LIHTC database for properties in SF County. See how to find LIHTC housing
• MOHCD BMR (Below Market Rate) units — listed and accessed through DAHLIA. New units come online regularly through inclusionary development
• Senior Operating Subsidy and SRO Family Rooms — additional MOHCD programs for specific populations
• HUD-VASH (veterans): combines a voucher with VA case management. SF-area veterans are referred through the SF VA Health Care System. See how to apply for HUD-VASH
• Rapid Rehousing & Permanent Supportive Housing — coordinated through SF Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH). Access via Coordinated Entry
• California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) — first-time homebuyer assistance, down-payment programs, and special programs for teachers and other public servants. calhfa.ca.gov
• HUD-approved housing counseling: find a counselor through the HUD counselor locator — Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) and SF Housing Development Corporation cover SF

Next Steps

Not sure which program is right for you? Our Where to Start tool asks a few quick questions about your situation — emergency vs. long-term, family vs. individual, employed vs. on benefits — and routes you to the right combination of programs. It takes about two minutes.

If you've been served with an unlawful detainer (eviction lawsuit) in San Francisco, contact the Eviction Defense Collaborative immediately — under Proposition F, every SF tenant gets a free attorney, but you have only a few days to file your response. Apply to SF ERAP at the same time at (415) 653-5744. If your landlord raised rent by more than 1.6% on a covered building, call the SF Rent Board at (415) 252-4602.