These preferences are less common
You can only get these preferences on certain listings for affordable housing.
They are much less common than the City of San Francisco Preferences, which you can get on most listings.
Check DAHLIA San Francisco Housing Portal to see which preferences are available for the listing you are interested in.
How preferences work
Preferences are programs that give certain groups of people a better chance at getting housing.
If you qualify for a preference, it will help you rank higher in the lottery. If you do not qualify for a preference, you will be ranked below those who do.
Learn more about lottery preferences.
What documents you need
Each preference requires different documentation.
Make sure you provide the right documentation. Otherwise, you may miss your chance to get housing.
You live or previously lived at a HOPE SF community
You live or previously lived at a HOPE SF community
HOPE SF Right to Return Preference is for current or previous residents of HOPE SF public housing communities at Sunnydale, Hunter's View, or Potrero.
This preference gives priority to current or previous residents who would like to return to or find a new unit at a HOPE SF community.
You live on Treasure Island
You live on Treasure Island
You can get the Treasure Island Resident Preference if you are a current resident of The Villages at Treasure Island. You must have started living at The Villages before December 19, 2019 and still live there today.
You can get this preference to find a new affordable housing unit on Treasure Island or Yerba Buena Island.
What documents you need
You need to provide your Treasure Island Resident Certificate number on your application. If you do not know your certificate number, contact TIadvisor@arws.com.
You are applying to a specific building
You are applying to a specific building
You can get the Rent Burdened/Assisted Housing Preference if you:
- Pay 50% or more of your income on rent
- Live in public housing or a section 8 housing project
You only need to meet 1 of the above criteria to qualify.
You can get this preference in the lottery for specific buildings in the Mission Bay, Transbay, and Hunters Point Shipyard/Candlestick Point neighborhoods. See a map of buildings where these preferences are available.
Check DAHLIA to see which preferences are available for the listing you are interested in.
Only 1 person needs to qualify.
When at least 1 person on your application qualifies for a preference, the entire household gets a higher lottery ranking.
City of San Francisco lottery preference programs
The City of SF lottery preferences are more frequently available on affordable housing listings.