Get help to pay for housing or other emergency needs

The Season of Sharing (SoS) program aims to keep San Francisco residents stably housed by providing emergency financial assistance for housing or other critical needs.

What to do

1. Review key information

The Season of Sharing program has updated its eligibility criteria as of December 2023. The intake worker at the Community Partner agency you are applying through will review your criteria to determine if you are eligible. Eligible applicants can apply once every five years based on the last approved application. Applicants will not be asked about citizenship/immigration status or be required to show proof of citizenship.

Due to limited resources, applicants may not be selected to receive financial assistance even if they meet the program’s minimum eligibility criteria below. Having received prior assistance may disqualify an applicant from being eligible at this time. Financial assistance is only available to households with the highest risk of homelessness or housing loss. If you do not receive financial assistance, other help may be available.

Types of assistance provided through the Season of Sharing program: 

  • Back rent/mortgage
  • Future rent

  • Move-in assistance (security deposit and/or first month’s rent) 

  • Furniture assistance

  • Limited medical bills/equipment costs (restrictions apply)

  • Past-due utilities assistance

Review the Program Rules for more information about the types of assistance provided.

2. Check if you can apply

To qualify for the Season of Sharing program, applicants must*:

  1. Be a current San Francisco resident;
  2. Be 18 years of age or older;
  3. Have a household income at or below 50% of the Area Median Income for the applicant’s size;
  4. Not have received Season of Sharing program funds within the last 5 years; and
  5. Be able to demonstrate a financial hardship that occurred within the past six months.

*Please note: at any time, at its sole discretion or the discretion of the Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund, the program may change the criteria set forth above.

3. Apply through a Community Partner

The Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development administers the program but does not provide direct application assistance. Those who meet the program's eligibility criteria can apply through a Community Partner agency. To apply, please contact any of the Community Partner agencies included below:
 

Become a Season of Sharing Community Partner

Community-based organizations (CBOs) play an essential role in the San Francisco Season of Sharing program. The Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development provides training sessions to CBO staff interested in becoming a Season of Sharing Community Partner. Only agencies that have completed a mandatory orientation may submit applications on behalf of their clients.

Interested agencies should sign up for one of our Community Partner trainings, offered virtually monthly.

Register now for an upcoming training:

About the fund

The Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund provides temporary assistance to help people living in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma counties. In addition to housing and critical needs assistance, the Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund provides support to Bay Area food banks to purchase food.

Get help

For more information

Read the Season of Sharing Program Rules.

For general questions

Last updated March 25, 2024