What to do
If you receive eviction documents, you should immediately seek free legal help from the Eviction Defense Collaborative at (415) 659-9184 or legal@evictiondefense.org, or visit EDC at 972 Mission St., 1st Floor, on Monday, Wednesday or Friday, 10-11:30 am and 1-2:30 pm. If you need advice about a specific situation, you can also contact the Rent Board, a mediator, or a tenant counselor listed under our Community Partners page. To learn about local protections from eviction for unpaid rent, visit our Tenant Protections page.
1. Review key information
The Season of Sharing program has updated its eligibility criteria as of April 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. Having received prior assistance may disqualify an applicant from being eligible at this time. 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. 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. See Additional Resources below.
Types of assistance provided through the Season of Sharing program:
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Past-due rent or mortgage
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Move-in costs (security deposit and/or first month’s rent)
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Furniture assistance for households moving into a rental unit who do not have basic furniture or whose furniture was destroyed in a flood or fire.
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Past-due utilities assistance
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Limited healthcare/medical equipment costs (restrictions apply)
2. Check if you can apply
The program is available to very low- and extremely low-income residents earning no more than 50% Area Median Income (AMI). To apply for the Season of Sharing program, prospective applicants must:
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Be a current San Francisco resident and meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Families with dependent children 18 years of age and younger;
- Persons 55 years of age and older;
- Persons with disabilities;
- Veterans;
- Pregnant persons;
- Former foster youth between the ages of 18 and 24 (only eligible for housing assistance); or
- Survivors of domestic or intimate partner violence.
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Not have received Season of Sharing program funds within the last 5 years.
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Have applied for or attempted to receive assistance from other programs, include the San Francisco Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).
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Be able to demonstrate household can afford housing cost moving forward.
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Apply through a Community Partner agency.
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:
- Latino Task Force
415-532-7275
- Hospitality House
(415) 749-2108
- La Voz Latina
(415) 983-3970
- Homeless Prenatal Program
(415)546-6756
- Open Door Legal
(415) 735-4124
- Project Homeless Connect
(855) 588-7968
edc@projecthomelessconnect.org
- Glide
(415) 674-6000
- Bayview Family Resource Center
(415) 822-7728
- Hamilton Families
(415) 321-2612
- St. Anthony Foundation
(415) 592-2855
Resource Center (Drop-In Services)
121 Golden Gate Ave, 2nd Floor
San Francisco CA 94102
Hours: M, T, Th, F 8:30-12:00 (last guest seen at 11:45)
Horario: lu, ma, ju, vi 8:30-12:00 (Último invitado visto a las 11:45)
Additional Resources
- If a landlord is trying to evict you, please immediately contact the Eviction Defense Collaborative: 415-659-9184 or legal@evictiondefense.org
- Review current eviction protections and information on tenants’ rights: sf.gov/information/covid-19-emergency-tenant-protections
- Apply for affordable housing opportunities in San Francisco: housing.sfgov.org/
- Get help from a tenant counselor in San Francisco: sf.gov/information/rent-relief-resources
- Find homelessness services: hsh.sfgov.org/services/how-to-get-services/
- Get assistance with small claims court and other legal assistance: baylegal.org/get-help/
- Get help with utilities:
- San Francisco Public Utilities Commission - Customer Assistance Program
- San Francisco-Peninsula Energy Service
- PG&E - Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH)
- PG&E - California Alternate Rates for Energy Program (CARE) and Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA)
- PG&E - Additional payment arrangements
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:
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 general questions
seasonofsharing@sfgov.org
(415) 701-5653
Last updated November 29, 2023