January 24, 2018
Although I regularly work on high-end luxury listings, sales and rentals, I also help lower-income individuals, and families with their affordable housing needs. In many cases, I do this work as a volunteer, discounted, or pro-bono as my way of helping to give back to the community. As a resident, homeowner, landlord, San Francisco native, mother and real estate broker, I have been researching affordable housing resources in San Francisco for both individuals and organizations.
There are so many people I regularly meet who work in non-profit, the social and religious sector; are teachers, artists, laborers and are elderly or disabled who struggle with their housing needs. It saddens me because the people who make up this large part of San Francisco’s demographics are what gives the city it’s unique character. These are frequently the same members of our community who provide the greatest social value. Below is a summary of my personal research and a reference list which I hope will aid others
One Home Bay Area: https://www.onehomebayarea.org/ Affordable-housing search tool and locator
San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development: http://sfmohcd.org/ (a detailed resource guide and locator of affordable housing communities. Home buyers who fall under a certain income threshold have below market purchase opportunities through lottery and downpayment assistance programs, but are first required to attend a workshop and undergo counseling, more info here): http://sfmohcd.org/sites/default/files/Documents/MOH/SF%20Housing%20Resource%20Guide%203.7.17_0.pdf
MEDA (Mission Economic Development Agency): http://medasf.org/programs/housing-opportunites/ (provides housing coach, payment resources, first-time home-buyer education assistance, etc. MEDA also recently created a special program specifically designed for artists)
John Stewart Housing https://jsco.net/city/san-francisco/
Eden Housing: https://www.edenhousing.org/now-leasing (note: properties are in Bay Area but not in SF)
Bridge Housing: http://www.bridgehousing.com/properties/rental-opportunities,
Community Housing Partnership: https://www.chp-sf.org/housing-services/apply-for-housing/ (focus is on homeless)
HIP Housing: http://hiphousing.org/programs/home-sharing-program/ (great homesharing program based in San Mateo)
Mercy Housing: https://www.mercyhousing.org/california-properties#San Fran Properties (offers numerous low-income housing communities in San Francisco and the Bay Area)
Episcopol Community Services SF: http://www.ecs-sf.org/programs/housing.html (focus is mainly on homeless people)
Closing Cost Assistance: Hebrew Free Loan Society https://www.hflasf.org/apply/loans-we-offer/home-buyer/ (provides interest-free closing cost assistance up to $25k usually only to first-time homebuyers, monthly principal repayments required at about $400+/month and requires 2 guarantors, borrower is required to be Jewish; contact Loan Administrator Marina Levy at 415.546.9902, marina@hflasf.org)
Lenders: There are numerous lenders who offer low downpayment services (such as Patelco Credit Union which allows 5% down, contact Justin Owens at 415.308.4363; jowens@patelco.com) See also Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development for list of other lenders: http://sfmohcd.org/mohcd-authorized-lender-list
PG&E (Pacific Gas & Electric): https://www.pge.com/en_US/residential/save-energy-money/help-paying-your-bill/longer-term-assistance/care/care.page (qualified households receive deep discounts on their monthly utility bills)