Emergency Rental Assistance Program in San Francisco
Apply Now to Avoid Eviction
What to do
Apply to get help with your rent
All eligible households will receive assistance. The order that applications are processed will be determined by prioritization. Generally, completed applications will be processed within 4-6 weeks.
See the list of Frequently Asked Questions, call the California COVID-19 Rent Relief Program Call Center at 833-430-2122, or visit housingiskey.com for more information.
Check if you meet all eligibility criteria
You must have had financial hardship during the pandemic
You can either:
- have qualified for unemployment benefits
- experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship
You must be able to demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability
This can include:
- past-due rent or utilities
- unsafe or unhealthy living conditions
- any other evidence of such risk
You can apply if you are a subtenant. The master tenant does not need to be involved in the first part of the application process.
Your landlord can also apply directly.
You must not make more than a certain amount for your household size
The maximum income depends on your household size:
- For 1 person, $102,450
- For 2 people, $117,100
- For 3 people, $131,750
- For 4 people, $146,350
- For 5 people, $158,100
- For 6 people, $169,800
- For 7 people, $181,500
- For 8 people, $193,200
These income limits are at or below 80% of HUD’s Area Median Income (AMI) for San Francisco.
Current eviction protections
Tenants: Do not move out! You have rights even after the moratorium expires and rental assistance coverage is through at least March 31, 2022. If you have unpaid rent or are struggling to pay rent that will be due starting October 1, please apply to housingiskey.com as soon as possible. Do not delay!
If you have not paid 25% of the rent for the period September 2020 – September 2021, please contact sfrenthelp@evictiondefense.org by September 30, 2021. Twenty-five percent is the equivalent of 3.25 months of the rent. If you pay at least 25% of the rent of this period by September 30, then you cannot be evicted for any unpaid rent from that period. For more information, click here.
If you receive a 15-day notice, please make sure to sign and return the attached declaration before the notice expires.
If you receive any eviction papers (documents that contain words like “summons” or “complaint” or “unlawful detainer”), please contact legal@evictiondefense.org or 415-659-9184 as soon as possible.
If you could not pay rent from March 1 to August 31, 2020
Your landlord cannot evict you for not paying during those months. They can take you to small claims court for unpaid rent, starting November 1, 2021. San Francisco is partnering with Bay Area Legal Aid and other legal services organizations to help with COVID-19 rental debt matters in small claims court.
You must give your landlord a signed declaration in response to a 15-day notice.
If you could not pay rent between September 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021
Your landlord cannot evict you for not paying during those months. They can take you to small claims court for unpaid rent, starting November 1, 2021.
You must:
- Give your landlord a signed declaration in response to a 15-day notice.
- By September 30, 2021, pay at least 25% of your rent from September 2020 to September 2021 (thirteen months). This can be a lump sum.
City rental assistance program
Before September 3, the California COVID-19 Rent Relief Program covered the period April 2020 – March 2021, and a local program covered the period April 2021 and later. All eligible households who applied to the local program will receive up to 18 months of assistance when combined with the California COVID-19 Rent Relief Program.
The statewide eviction moratorium (AB 832) will expire on September 30. After that, landlords will be able to file an eviction with the court and the court will have to determine if a tenant is eligible for protections under AB 832. Tenants and landlords are strongly encouraged to apply for rental assistance as soon as possible at housingiskey.com.
