San Francisco Housing Authority – Housing Opportunity Waitlist Lottery Opening Soon

May 20, 2024 by Almira Robleza
No comments

San Francisco Housing Authority
Address: 1815 Egbert Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94124
Email: customercare@sfha.org
Phone: (415) 715-5200
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Call Center: Weekdays 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Weekends 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM and closes at 5:00 PM on Friday, June 7, 2024

RENTAL ASSISTANCE DEMONSTRATION (RAD) & PROJECT-BASED VOUCHER (PBV) SECTION 8 WAITLIST OPENING SOON
Opens Tuesday, May 28, 2024 starting at 8:00 AM Pacific Time
Closes Friday, June 7, 2024 at 5:00 PM Pacific Time*
*Applications are estimated to take at least 15-30 minutes to complete. Applications not submitted by 5:00 PM on the closing date will not be processed further.

Apply Online Only: https://sfha.myhousing.com
Click Here for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Video Walk-Thru of Online Application: https://youtu.be/q_iJSGrpxiM

The Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco (Authority) is opening its waitlist application process for the Section 8 Rental Assistance Demonstration/Project-Based Voucher RAD/PBV) Program. The Authority will open waitlist applications to the public on 05/28/2024 starting at 8:00 AM and close applications on 06/07/2024 at 5:00 PM.
Applications are accepted online only, and the online application is open 24 hours a day during the application period. There is no fee for completing the online application or to receive assistance with the application. Placement on the waitlist is lottery-based, and not first come, first served.

Application Process

  1. Complete the online waitlist application using a computer or mobile device with Internet access at https://sfha.myhousing.com. Free access to computers and the Internet is available at your local San Francisco Public Library. Call 311 for locations of libraries and operating hours or visit https://sfpl.org/.
  2. You will need: (1) A valid email address; (2) Phone number; and (3) The full name for all household members; (4) Date of Birth for all household members; and (5) Social Security number for all household members (if available).
  3. Save the confirmation number to acknowledge successful submission of the application. You can take a screenshot on your mobile device, print, e-mail, or write the number down with pen and paper.

Application Assistance

  • Community partners are also available to assist you with the application process. The full listing may be found at the bottom of this announcement.
  • Housing Authority’s Customer Care Center can be reached at (415) 715-5200 from 8:00 AM PT to 7:00 PM PT on weekdays and 8:00 AM PT to 12:00 PM PT on weekends during the application period. For applicants applying on the final day of the opening, please have all information ready and available and call as early as possible, preferably before 3:00 PM to ensure your application is completed by the 5:00 PM deadline.
    • If you are a person with a disability, reasonable accommodations can be provided to assist you with the application process. Please call the Housing Authority’s Customer Care Center to request a reasonable accommodation.
    • If you have challenges speaking, reading, or understanding English, language assistance can be provided to assist you with the application process. Please call the Housing Authority’s Customer Care Center to request language assistance.
    • If you have a hearing impairment, please use the TTY line at (415) 467-6754.

After Application Closes
A lottery will be used to randomly select 10,000 applicants. The names selected through the lottery will have waitlist preferences taken into consideration and be placed on the HCV waitlist. Applying for the lottery does NOT guarantee a place on the HCV waiting list.
Applicants will be notified by email of their lottery status within 30 days of the waitlist closing. Applicants will also be notified when their name comes to the top of the waiting list, and if the applicant is unable to verify their waitlist preference, they will be returned to the waitlist without the preference.
If an applicant does not respond to the Authority’s notifications for an appointment or the appointment letter is returned undeliverable, the applicant will be removed from the waiting list. If the applicant has a change of address, phone number, income, or family size, they must notify the Authority in writing or through the Applicant Portal.

Eligibility and Income Requirements
To be determined as eligible for RAD/PBV assistance, applicant households must meet certain criteria. This information will be verified for applicants who were selected through the random lottery once their name comes to the top of the waiting list.

An applicant (and all members of the family, if applicable) must:

  • Qualify as an individual or family as defined by the Authority.
  • Have a head of household that is at least 18 years of age at the time of this waitlist application or be a minor legally emancipated by a court of competent jurisdiction, consistent with California law.
  • Have an annual income at the time of admission that does not exceed the established income limits.
  • Pass a criminal background check.
  • Provide documentation of social security numbers or certify that they do not have social security numbers at the time of initial eligibility interview.
  • Meet HUD requirements on citizenship or immigration status. One member of the applicant family must be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. National or Non-Citizen with eligible immigration status at the time the voucher is issued to be eligible for assistance.

An applicant/applicant family must not:

  • Have ever been convicted of manufacturing or producing methamphetamine on the premises of any federally assisted housing.
  • Be subject to a lifetime registration requirement under a state sex offender registration program.
  • Owe rent or other amounts to the Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco (or any other public housing authority). Assistance will not be offered until the outstanding balance is paid in full.

Income Requirements
Additionally, total household income must not exceed 50% of Area Median Income (AMI) unless the family is already receiving assistance from the Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco or a different Public Housing Authority.

2023 INCOME LIMITS (Effective 5/15/2023)
Family Size Extremely Low
30% of AMI		 Very Low
50% of AMI		 Low
80% of AMI
1 $41,150 $68,550 $109,700
2 $47,000 $78,350 $125,350
3 $52,900 $88,150 $141,000
4 $58,750 $97,900 $156,650
5 $63,450 $105,750 $169,200
6 $68,150 $113,600 $181,750

The Authority does not discriminate based on race, color, sex/gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, familial status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, ancestry, genetic information or request for family/disability leave in the access to, admission into, or employment in housing programs or activities.

Waitlist Preference
​See website link at https://sfha.org/housing-programs/waitlist
​for Waitlist Preferences.

Community Partners
The following community partners will be available to assist applicants in completing their online applications during the waitlist opening:
RAD / HOPE SF providers

Community Providers

Family Resource Centers

Housing Counseling Agencies

HIV Services Providers

News and Events