Part of COVID-19 data and reports

COVID-19 in single room occupancies (SROs)

Track COVID-19 cases and deaths in residents of single room occupancy hotels.

Sections

Pandemics exploit the existing inequities in our society. Read more about how systemic racism is closely linked to housing.  

A single room occupancy hotel (SRO) is a building with 6 or more rooms attached to shared bathrooms, kitchens, and living spaces. Shared spaces risk spreading infection because residents cannot isolate or quarantine.   

Residents of SROs are vulnerable to COVID-19 because of these shared spaces. The City is prioritizing the health and safety of these residents. 

The dashboard shows the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in SRO residents over time. 

Data notes and sources

Data notes and sources

View source data on cases
View source data on deaths

There are many ways to define an SRO. The City uses the San Francisco Housing Code. The whole building does not have to only have rooms with shared spaces to be an SRO building. 

Not all SRO residents who test positive for COVID-19 need to stay at an I&Q site. Some are able to self-isolate or quarantine in their homes or in other ways.  

It takes time to process and confirm these data. Because of this: 

  • cases and deaths data lag by several days 

  • daily case totals on previous days may increase or decrease 

All data update daily as more information becomes available. Learn more about the update process.

Get help

If you are a resident of an SRO and concerned about rent, health, or safety, call:  

  • Central City SRO Collaborative or La Voz Latina at 415-775-7110 or 415-983-3970   

  • Chinatown SRO Collaborative or SRO Families United Collaborative at 415-984-2730   

  • Mission SRO Collaborative at 415-282-6209 ext. 150 

Prioritizing SRO residents

Cleaning

During the pandemic, the City provided:

  • cleaning supplies, face masks, hand sanitizers, and toilet paper

  • emergency cleaning services for shared spaces

The City provided cleaning services to over 100 SROs.

Testing and education

During the pandemic, the City hosted testing and education events at SRO buildings for the residents.

Medical care

The City offered isolation and quarantine (I&Q) sites to SRO residents. These provided temporary shelter and care for patients who could not isolate or quarantine at home. These sites were part of the City's COVID-19 Alternative Shelter Program.

Cases in SROs

During the City's response to the pandemic, City staff reached out to every resident who tested positive. Staff reached out to conduct contact tracing interviews to track the spread of the disease. They also wanted to provide help. Each person might have needed a different kind of support. Some kinds of support staff offered included:

  • information on testing sites

  • a stay at an I&Q site to recover

  • food delivery resources

  • cleaning supplies