MOHCD 2025-2029 Strategic Plan

The San Francisco Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development provides funding to create new affordable housing available to rent or purchase across the city. We also provide funding to preserve and care for existing affordable homes. In 2022, MOHCD invested over $252 million to build and improve affordable housing across San Francisco.

Building New Affordable Housing

MOHCD invests in creating affordable homes for households with acutely low to moderate incomes, veterans, people with HIV/AIDS, older adults, educators, people with disabilities, and people who were once homeless. As of July 2023, MOHCD has more than 1,900 affordable homes under construction.

Preserving Affordable Housing

Preventing residents from losing their homes is important for keeping housing affordable and San Francisco's cultural identity intact. MOHCD oversees a number of programs to both preserve and rehabilitate existing affordable housing throughout San Francisco.

• Small Sites Program (SSP): Provides loans to local nonprofits so they can buy and take care of rent-controlled properties.
• Preservation and Seismic Safety Program (PASS): Provides funding to rehabilitate existing apartment buildings and improve earthquake safety.
• HOPE SF: Constructs new homes to replace public housing units and add new housing to select neighborhoods.

Improving Affordability

MOHCD has programs that provide financial support to make housing even more affordable. These programs include:

• Local Operating Subsidy Program (LOSP): Helps create and maintain permanent supportive housing for households that were once homeless. This program ensures that these homes stay available and affordable for the long term.
• Senior Operating Subsidy (SOS): Keeps rent affordable in new senior housing projects supported by the city. This helps acutely- and extremely-low income seniors find suitable housing without struggling with high costs.

Learn more:

• Affordable Housing Dashboard
• Affordable Housing Preservation
• About the Small Site Program

One of the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development's primary jobs is to ensure San Franciscans have a safe and stable place to live.

Access to Housing Services

MOHCD provides education on housing and finances, and we also help people apply for homes they can afford. Last year, more than 12,000 individuals received help through these programs. Our focus is on helping people who might face difficulties in finding homes, such as residents who only speak one language, people with disabilities, older adults, people experiencing homelessness, veterans, people in the LGBTQIA+ community, young adults, individuals re-entering society, and survivors of domestic violence.

Applying for Affordable Housing

In 2016, San Francisco introduced a new and improved system to apply for affordable housing. DAHLIA, San Francisco's affordable housing portal, puts all the affordable homes in one place and allows people to apply for listings. People can take part in online events like lotteries, learning sessions, and virtual tours of the units, all through DAHLIA. Almost all the affordable housing applications in San Francisco are now completed on DAHLIA.

Housing Lotteries and Preference Programs

MOHCD runs different programs to help communities stay diverse and avoid being displaced. One program is the Displaced Tenant Housing Preference (DTHP), which allows residents who have had to move out of their home due to changes in rent or other situations such as fires or floods to more easily qualify for affordable housing. As of May 2023, this program also helps tenants who have to move out because the Planning Commission says their home is unlawful.

We also have the Neighborhood Resident Housing Preference (NRHP). This helps people who already live near a new affordable housing project apply and qualify for new homes in the new building, allowing them to stay in their neighborhoods. This helps communities stay diverse and prevents displacement.

The Certificate of Preference (COP) program gives preference in housing lotteries to people who had to leave their homes because of changes made by the city's former Redevelopment Agency during the 1960s-1970s. This applies to all the affordable homes that the city supports.

Sustainable Homeownership

MOHCD helps people and families who want to buy a home but need help with the money they must pay upfront, called a down payment. MOHCD offers down payment assistance loans up to $500,000 for a market-rate home. Last year, we gave out over $19 million in loans to help with down payments. Money is set aside to help Black and African American residents, police, fire, or sheriff's department staff, and teachers in the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) purchase a home.

MOHCD also offer services to support people who already own homes. The Homeowner Emergency Loan Program (HELP) program helps households who might lose their homes because they cannot afford special payments such as homeowner association dues or monthly housing payments. The program helps people keep their homes and protect their investment.

Learn more:

• DAHLIA San Francisco Housing Portal
• Housing Lottery Preference Programs
• Displaced Tenant Housing Preference Program
• Certificate of Preference
• Downpayment Assistance Loan Program

The Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development ensures people have safe and stable homes. We do this by helping prevent eviction and providing additional support to residents.

Eviction Prevention & Housing Stabilization

Keeping San Francisco residents in their homes is important because it helps keep homes affordable and the city's unique culture alive. When people have to leave their homes, they often struggle to find new places to live in this costly city. MOHCD provides funding to support a number of programs to help residents stay in their homes, including:

• Eviction legal assistance
• Tenants’ rights counseling, education, and outreach
• Tenant-landlord mediation
• Emergency rental assistance and housing subsidies

Place-Based Services in Housing

MOHCD funds on-site services for residents in living affordable housing and former public housing. These services aim to build trust with residents while providing skills and leadership training, and workshops and community events focused on health and overall well-being.

HOPE SF Resident Services & Community Building

There are four HOPE SF sites in San Francisco: Hunters View, Alice Griffith, Potrero Annex/Terrace, and Sunnydale. At each of these sites, MOHCD provides funding for services to help residents prepare for the transition to nonprofit management, while helping residents remain comfortably housed and encouraging community leadership and workforce development.

Learn more:

• Rent Relief & Counseling
• Eviction Support
• Emergency Rental Assistance
• Season of Sharing Program
• About HOPE SF

The Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development ensures San Franciscans have access to quality facilities, outdoor spaces, social connections, and businesses in their neighborhoods. MOHCD's funding supports programs that help neighborhoods grow and keep their culture alive.

Improvements to Community Facilities and Public Space

MOHCD is the leading City agency that gives money to fix or develop buildings run by nonprofit groups that serve low-income families and individuals. These improvements ensure that community facilities are accessible to all and meet health and safety standards.

SoMa Community Stabilization Fund

The SoMa Community Stabilization Fund supports the South of Market neighborhood and supports affordable housing, local businesses, and infrastructure improvements that help build strong communities.

Cultural Districts

The Cultural Districts Program addresses inequality for different races and groups that have faced discrimination. MOHCD works with other city departments, including the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, the Planning Department, and the San Francisco Arts Commission to coordinate resources and stabilize these communities. There are currently 10 recognized cultural districts located across San Francisco:

• Japantown Cultural District
• Calle 24 (Veinticuatro) Latino Cultural District
• SoMa Pilipinas Filipino Cultural District
• Transgender Cultural District
• Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District
• African American Arts and Cultural District
• Castro LGBTQ Cultural District
• American Indian Cultural District
• Sunset Chinese Cultural District
• Pacific Islander Cultural District

Learn more:

• SoMa Community Stabilization Fund
• San Francisco Cultural Districts Program

The Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development funds programs that help families and individuals become independent and resilient. MOHCD offers skills training and access to legal services for immigration and other critical issues facing San Franciscans.

Skill Development and Service Connection

Through this program area, community-based organizations provide connections to supportive services, focused on reaching our most vulnerable residents. They also offer training focused on life skills, academic support, English as a Second Language (ESL), and job skills.

Financial Literacy and Personal Finance Management

Residents have access to financial management coaching, including one-on-one help with budgeting, credit issues, accessing safe and affordable banking services, and avoiding predatory lending services. These programs aim to help low-income families become more financially independent.

Digital Literacy

The Office of Digital Equity work ensures all residents can take part in a digital society. MOHCD’s digital equity goals include expanding access to affordable internet, helping residents feel more confident in using technology, and supporting technology experts in their communities.

Access To Civil Legal Services

Many people have to handle complex legal matters without a professional to help. MOHCD helps thousands of people in San Francisco get help from local legal experts. Services include:

• Legal advice and advocacy for immigrants
• Solving family and domestic violence problems
• Defending employment rights
• Supporting benefits cases
• Explaining consumer rights and protections
• Handling housing problems, like poor conditions and discrimination

Learn more:

• Digital Skills and Entrepreneurship Playbook
• Affordable Connectivity Program
• Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs

The Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) offers a range of programs to train and connect San Franciscans to stable jobs with opportunities for to grow in their careers. These programs provide opportunities for everyone, including those who don't have jobs, those with jobs that don't pay well, and those who find it challenging to get hired.

Adult Workforce Services

OEWD supports job centers all over San Francisco the offer free services, including:

• Job search and resume writing
• Career planning
• Education and training
• Access to computers, internet, and more

Some job centers focus on helping groups with special needs such as veterans, people with disabilities, immigrants, minority groups, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and residents experiencing homelessness.

Young Adult Workforce Services

OEWD offers many training and career programs for young people aged 16 to 24. These programs include Young Adult Job Centers, the Young Adult Subsidized Employment Program, and a program called RAMP, which helps young adults get ready for jobs while supporting them in getting a high school diploma or GED.

Sector Workforce Programs

Sector Workforce Programs provide training and certificates for jobs in growing industries, such as:

• Construction
• Healthcare
• Hospitality
• Technology
• Transportation
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Early Childcare Education

These hands-on training programs are provided in partnership with many educational and community organizations in San Francisco.

WorkforceLinkSF

WorkforceLinkSF is a job-matching website that connects local job seekers with local employers.

Learn more:

• Job and Career Services
• Find a Job Center
• Job Training and Support
• WorkforceLinkSF

The Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) helps small businesses in San Francisco grow and contribute to their neighborhood's economy. OEWD supports small businesses, non-profit groups, and community groups to improve key business areas in San Francisco.

Office of Small Business

The Office of Small Business (OSB) is the central point of information for small businesses in San Francisco. OSB provides services to new and existing business owners, including help with business registration, business counseling, permit assistance, finding an appropriate location, and up-to-date information on deadlines, grants, and training opportunities.

Community Economic Development

The Community Economic Development (CED) division supports areas of the city with a strong business community to make sure the city's economy is fair for everyone. CED works with nonprofit partners to provide assistance to business owners who are looking to grow their businesses. CED supports various City-wide initiatives, including the Cultural Districts Program and Dream Keeper Initiative, and funds various grants, loans, and technical assistance programs.

San Francisco Small Business Development Center

The San Francisco Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides no-cost advising and training to help new and existing business owners grow in San Francisco. SBDC works with contracted consultants with expertise in marketing, human resources, accounting, general financial operations, and other services.

Learn more:

• Starting a Business in San Francisco
• Office of Small Business
• Community Economic Development
• San Francisco Small Business Development Center

The Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development provides money for essential services, case management, and operating costs to run facilities that help people with HIV/AIDS. Funding is available to lower the cost of rent and offer support and guidance for people with HIV/AIDS. Last year, MOHCD invested over $7.4 million in this program area, which helped over 540 individuals find and keep stable housing and get the help they need.

In June 2021, MOHCD published a new HIV/AIDS Housing Five-Year Plan focused on working closely with housing providers and medical experts to improve housing for people living with HIV/AIDS. The goals of the plan include:

• Maintain 32 facilities that help people with HIV/AIDS
• Add 35 new homes for people with HIV/AIDS in the next five years
• Increase resources to help build, pay for, and maintain housing affordable for people with HIV/AIDS
• Expand access to services for people with HIV/AIDS that help them stabilize their housing
• Improve efficiency and quality of existing housing and services

Learn more:

• San Francisco HIV/AIDS Housing Five-Year Plan
• Press Release: HIV/AIDS Housing Five-Year Plan
• Plus Housing Program

An Equity Plan is the fair housing plan prepared by governments that receive funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This plan supports goals focused on making housing fair and equal and shows what San Francisco will do to overcome segregation in our communities, promote fair choices in housing, improve access to opportunities for all, and create welcoming communities without discrimination.

Community members are invited to share their thoughts to help inform San Francisco's Equity Plan. After studying this data and hearing from the community, San Francisco will publish fair housing goals and strategies for 2025-2029.

Learn more:

• HUD’s Equity Action Plan
• The Fair Housing Act
• Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government

• 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and 2020-2021 Action Plan
• Home by the Bay: 2023-2028 Strategic Plan
• MOHDC 2021-2022 Annual Report

Questions? Email mohcdstratplan@sfgov.org for more information.