STEP-BY-STEP

Understand the rental process

How to find and apply for a rental through San Francisco's affordable housing lottery.

Find affordable housing based on your income and other factors. For most listings, you get housing through a lottery on DAHLIA San Francisco Housing Portal

For a small number of rentals, we review applications in the order they come in

1

Browse listings

Find listings of apartments for rent in San Francisco. New listings get added every day.

Find affordable rental housing on DAHLIA

2

Check eligibility

Every building has different requirements for who is eligible to live there. 

Eligibility for housing programs run by the City

3

Prepare to apply

On the lottery application, we ask about:

  • Your income
  • Who you will live with

We also ask questions to find out if you qualify for any housing lottery preference programs. If you do, you will need to show documentation.

4

Enter the lottery

Cost: Free.
Time:15 minutes

Apply online before the deadline. 

For most listings, you are entering a lottery to apply for open units in an apartment building.

5

Lottery

The lottery determines who gets to apply for a unit first. 

How the affordable housing lottery works

6

Get your results

Usually, you can check your results online right after the lottery. Check the listing where you applied to find out when results will be available. 

7

Applicants are contacted until all units are filled

Time:Several weeks to months

In order of the lottery results, a representative from the building contacts applicants about renting a unit. They will contact applicants until all units are filled.

If you get contacted, you will need to fill out a more detailed application. 

What to expect after the lottery

8

After you move in

Every year, we will ask for proof that you are living in the apartment and that you are still eligible.