What the San Francisco Housing Authority does

The San Francisco Housing Authority (SFHA) is a public agency that owns and operates public housing and administers housing vouchers in San Francisco. It is not a landlord registry, a tenant complaint office, or a general housing information service — it runs specific programs for people who meet income limits. If you live in SFHA public housing or hold an SFHA voucher, the Authority is your landlord or voucher administrator. If you do not, SFHA has no role in your housing situation.

SFHA manages roughly 6,000 public housing units across the city and administers vouchers that help lower-income households pay rent in the private market. The Authority also runs supportive housing programs, family housing, and senior housing. It is separate from the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, which handles different programs.

Key Takeaways

  • SFHA runs public housing and voucher programs for households below specific income limits; you must be referred through the waitlist or a partner agency to enter either program.
  • If you live in SFHA housing, the Authority is your landlord and handles maintenance requests, lease enforcement, and rent collection.
  • If you hold an SFHA voucher, you find your own apartment and the Authority pays part of your rent directly to the landlord.
  • SFHA's public housing waitlist is closed most of the time; voucher waitlists also close when they reach capacity and reopen periodically.
  • Complaints about SFHA's own housing or voucher administration go to SFHA's management; complaints about private landlords go to the San Francisco Rent Board or Department of Building Inspection.

SFHA public housing: how it works and who can live there

SFHA public housing is owned and operated by the Authority itself. You pay rent based on your income — typically 30 percent of your gross monthly income, with a minimum rent. The Authority covers the rest of the cost to maintain the building. To live in SFHA housing, your household income must fall below the limit set for that property, which varies by building and family size.

Getting into public housing requires being on the waitlist. SFHA's public housing waitlist is closed to new applications most of the time. When it opens, it fills quickly and then closes again. You can check the SFHA website or call their main office to learn whether the waitlist is currently open. Some people are referred directly to SFHA housing through partner agencies — for example, people exiting homelessness through the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing may be referred directly without going through the public waitlist.

Once you are approved and move in, SFHA is your landlord. You sign a lease with the Authority, pay rent to SFHA, and call SFHA maintenance for repairs. SFHA can evict you for lease violations just as a private landlord can, though San Francisco's eviction protections still explore.

Housing vouchers: how the program works

An SFHA housing voucher (sometimes called a Section 8 voucher) is a subsidy that helps you pay rent in the private market. You find your own apartment, the landlord agrees to accept the voucher, and SFHA pays a portion of the rent directly to the landlord each month. You pay the difference out of pocket — usually 30 percent of your income.

To hold a voucher, your household income must be at or below 50 percent of the area median income for San Francisco, though some vouchers serve households at 30 percent AMI. Income limits change yearly and depend on family size. You must be a U.S. citizen or have may be able to access immigration status.

The voucher waitlist is also closed most of the time. Like public housing, it opens periodically and closes when capacity is reached. Some people are referred to the voucher program through homeless services or other city agencies without waiting on the public list. Once you hold a voucher, you have a certain amount of time to find an apartment. The landlord must agree to rent to you and accept the voucher payment; SFHA cannot force a landlord to participate, though San Francisco law prohibits landlords from discriminating against voucher holders.

What SFHA is responsible for and what it is not

SFHA is responsible for managing its own housing stock and voucher program. That means SFHA handles maintenance in its buildings, enforces lease terms for its tenants, processes voucher payments, and sets income limits for its programs. If you have a problem with SFHA housing or your voucher, you contact SFHA directly.

SFHA is not responsible for private landlords, even if those landlords house voucher holders. If your private landlord (one who accepts your SFHA voucher) fails to make repairs, discriminates against you, or tries to evict you illegally, those complaints go to the San Francisco Rent Board or the Department of Building Inspection, not to SFHA. SFHA can terminate your voucher if you violate program rules, but SFHA does not enforce housing code or eviction law against private landlords.

SFHA also does not run emergency rental information, homelessness services, or tenant counseling. Those programs are run by other city agencies. SFHA does not process complaints about housing discrimination — that goes to the San Francisco Human Rights Commission or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

How to contact SFHA and what to expect

The San Francisco Housing Authority's main office is located at 1815 Egbert Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94124. You can reach them by phone at (415) 671-2200. SFHA has a website where you can find information about waitlist status, income limits, and how to request maintenance or report a lease violation if you are a current resident.

If you are calling about the waitlist, expect to be told whether it is open or closed and, if closed, when it is expected to reopen. That timeline is not may provide and can change. If you are a current resident calling about maintenance, you will be asked for your unit number and a description of the problem; SFHA aims to respond to emergency repairs (no heat, no water, safety hazards) within 24 hours and routine repairs within a longer timeframe set by lease and city law.

Wait times to speak with someone can be long, especially during the first week of the month. Email is slower than phone but creates a written record. If you need help understanding your lease, your rights as an SFHA tenant, or how the voucher program works, SFHA staff can explain, but for legal information you should contact a tenant rights organization like the Tenderloin Housing Clinic or Community Legal Services.

Income limits and how they affect your housing options

SFHA programs serve households below specific income thresholds. Public housing income limits vary by building and family size but typically range from about 50 to 80 percent of area median income. Voucher programs typically serve households at 50 percent AMI or below, though some serve 30 percent AMI households. Area median income for a family of four in San Francisco is significantly higher than in surrounding counties, so the same household income may may have access to in one place and not another.

Income is calculated as gross monthly income before taxes. It includes wages, self-employment income, Social Security, disability benefits, child support, and other regular sources. It does not include one-time payments or assets. If your income rises above the limit, you may lose your housing or voucher, though SFHA has rules about how much income you can earn before losing the subsidy — these are called "income recertification" rules and they vary by program.

If you are not sure whether your income qualifies, you can call SFHA and describe your situation. They will not make a final information over the phone, but they can tell you whether you are in the ballpark and what documents you would need to bring if you were to explore when the waitlist opens.

Waitlist status and how to find out when it opens

Both the public housing waitlist and the voucher waitlist are managed by SFHA. You can check the status on the SFHA website or call (415) 671-2200 to ask whether the waitlist you are interested in is currently open. SFHA also sends notifications to people who have requested to be notified when a waitlist opens — you can ask to be added to that list even if you cannot explore right now.

When a waitlist opens, it usually stays open for a limited time — sometimes a few weeks, sometimes a few months, depending on how many slots are available. Once it closes, there is no set date for when it will reopen. SFHA prioritizes people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities, and people referred through city agencies, so if you are referred directly by a partner agency, you may not need to wait on the public list.

If you are on the waitlist and your contact information changes, you must update SFHA so they can reach you when your number comes up. Waitlists can take years to move, so staying in touch is important.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I explore for SFHA housing or a voucher right now?

That depends on whether the waitlist is currently open. Call SFHA at (415) 671-2200 or check their website to find out. Most of the time both waitlists are closed. If a waitlist is closed, you can ask to be notified when it reopens.

What if I have a maintenance problem in my SFHA apartment?

Call SFHA's maintenance line or submit a request through their website. Describe the problem and your unit number. Emergency repairs (no heat, water, or electricity; safety hazards) should be addressed within 24 hours. For routine repairs, SFHA has longer timelines set by lease and city law. If SFHA does not respond, you can contact the Department of Building Inspection or a tenant rights organization.

Can SFHA evict me if I hold a voucher and my private landlord wants me out?

No. SFHA does not control whether your private landlord can evict you. Your landlord must follow San Francisco eviction law, which requires just cause and proper notice. If your landlord tries to evict you illegally, contact the Rent Board or a tenant rights organization. SFHA can only terminate your voucher if you violate the voucher program rules.

What happens if my income goes above the limit?

SFHA recertifies income yearly. If your income rises above the limit, you may lose your housing or voucher, but SFHA has rules that allow some income growth before that happens. The exact rules depend on your program. Contact SFHA to understand how income changes affect your specific situation.

Is there a fee to explore for SFHA housing or a voucher?

No. SFHA does not charge an process fee. Be cautious of anyone claiming to charge a fee to help you get on the waitlist or get approved — that is a scam. SFHA's process process is free.