Waitlist

 

Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco

RAD/PBV (Project-Based Voucher) and Public Housing 

LOTTERY WAITLIST OPENING

 

Opens Wednesday, May 07, 2025, starting at 8:00 AM Pacific Time

Closes Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time

*Applications are estimated to take at least 15-30 minutes to complete. A completed application requires the application to be submitted. Applications not submitted by 5:00 PM PT on May 21, 2025, will not be processed further.

 

Waitlist Application: https://sfha.myhousing.com

Video Walk-Thru of Online Application: https://youtu.be/q_iJSGrpxiM

Free access to computers and Internet is available at a local San Francisco Public Library. 

Call 311 or visit www.sfpl.org.

 

The Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco (“Authority”) is accepting online applications for the Rental Assistance Demonstration/Project-Based Voucher (RAD/PBV), and Public Housing waitlists during the specified dates. Learn more at https://sfha.org

 

Applications are accepted online and via phone. 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 completing the application. Placement on the waitlist is lottery-based, and not first come, first serve.

 

Within 30 days of the waitlist application closing, the Authority will use a lottery to randomly draw 24,000 names from the list of applications submitted. The names drawn will be placed on RAD/PBV and/or Public Housing waitlists. Applying for the lottery does NOT guarantee a place on a RAD/PBV or Public Housing waitlist.

 

The lottery slots will be allocated by bedroom size for the following waitlists. If there are less applicants than lottery slots for a particular bedroom size, the random draw will include less than 24,000 names.

 

Waitlist Name

Studio

1 BR

2 BR

3 BR

4 BR

5 BR

6 BR

Total

PBV No Restrictions 

(2025)

1,900

1,900

1,900

1,500

500

 

 

7,700

PBV 62+ (2025)

1,000

1,000

500

500

500

 

 

3,500

RAD No Restriction

1,900

1,900

2,150

1,000

500

600

 

8,050

RAD Senior or 

Disabled

1,000

1,900

500

 

 

 

 

3,400

Public Housing

350

400

350

150

100

 

 

1,350

Grand Total

6,150

7,100

5,400

3,150

1,600

600

 

24,000

 

NOTE: The Public Housing program includes:

  • Plaza East Apartments (1300 Buchanan Street, San Francisco, CA 94115)

  • North Beach Place (455 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133)
     

How to Apply:

Review the Eligibility and Income Requirements in the below sections to ensure your household is eligible. 

 

You will need: (1) valid email address; (2) phone number; (3) full name for all household members; (4) date of birth for all household members; (5) Social Security number for all household members; and (6) gross annual income of all household members. 

 

  1. Complete the waitlist application on any device with Internet access: https://sfha.myhousing.com

  2. Submit your application. 

  3. Print or save the online confirmation number. You can either print, save a screenshot, e-mail, or write this number down with pen and paper.

 

Eligibility Requirements

To be determined as eligible for RAD/PBV, or Public Housing 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.

     

The Authority does not discriminate based on race, sex, color, religion, marital status, familial status, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, ancestry, or sexual orientation in the access to, admission into, or employment in housing programs or activities.

 

Income Requirements

In addition to meeting eligibility requirements, the 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.

 

2025 INCOME LIMITS (Effective 4/1/25)

Family Size

Extremely Low

30% of AMI

Very Low

50% of AMI

Low 

80% of AMI

1

$40,600

$67,700

$108,300

2

$46,400

$77,400

$123,800

3

$52,200

$87,050

$139,250

4

$58,000

$96,700

$154,700

5

$62,650

$104,450

$167,100

6

$67,300

$112,200

$179,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Application Assistance

Applicants who require assistance in completing an application, because of a disability or require translation services or communication in an alternate format, can call the Customer Care Center at (415) 715-5200 from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM on weekdays and 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM on weekends. For applicants with hearing impairment, please use the national TTY line by calling 711. The national 711 line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is no charge to the TRS user other than standard calling rates. All calls are confidential. 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.

 

Additionally, a list of service providers able to assist you with the application process is available at the bottom of this webpage: https://sfha.org/housing-programs/waitlist.

 

Contact the Authority with Questions

For questions, please contact the Customer Care Center. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. During the waitlist opening dates (May 7 - May 21, 2025), the call center will be open 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM on weekdays and 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM on weekends.

 

  • Phone: (415) 715-5200 

  • E-mail: customercare@sfha.org

  • Address: 1815 Egbert Ave, San Francisco, CA 94124 (Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM)

 

Waitlist Preference

The Authority will give waitlist preferences as follows: 

RAD

Veteran/Surviving Spouse of Veteran (+1 point)

Families with a Right to Return (16 points)

RAD Emergency Referral (15 points)

Residents of Residential Care Facilities for the Chronically Ill (RCFC)/Transitional Residential Care Facilities (TRCF) (14 points)

Mixed Families currently residing at non-RAD units at HOPE SF sites (13 points)

Involuntarily Displaced with Residential Certificate of Preference (COP) (11 points)

Department of Homeless and Supportive Housing Referral (HSH) (7 points)

Families with minor children living in SROs with a referral from DBI (7 points)

Involuntarily Displaced from San Francisco Residence (5 points)
PBV

Veteran/Surviving Spouse of Veteran (+1 point)

Involuntarily Displaced with Residential Certificate of Preference (COP) (11 points)

Involuntarily Displaced from San Francisco Residence (5 points)
Public Housing

Veteran/Surviving Spouse of Veteran (+1 point)

Involuntarily Displaced from San Francisco Residence (5 points)

 

 

In addition, the application includes suitability requirements for applicable buildings and units:

 

  • Do you qualify for "Transitional Aged Youth Housing?"  This includes young adults, ages 18-24 (and ages 25-27 for those currently experiencing homelessness), who are transitioning from public systems, like foster care, and are at risk of not making a successful transition to adulthood.

  • Are all household members 45+ years old?

  • Are all household members 55+ years old?

  • Are you a family with at least one child under 18 years old?

  • Do you qualify for Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)?

  • Are you experiencing homelessness?

  • Are you experiencing chronic homelessness?

  • Are you a homeless veteran?

  • Do you have a documented disability?

  • Do you have a documented mental illness?

  • Do you have a documented mental health condition?

  • Do you have a documented mental health disability?

  • Do you have documented mental health special needs?

  • Did you apply and were you accepted into the California DAH/Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) program?

 

Maintaining Your Status on the Waiting List

Applicants randomly selected to be placed on a RAD/PBV or Public Housing waitlist will be notified by email or mail when their name comes to the top of that waiting list or if the Authority updates its files. If an applicant does not respond to the Authority’s notifications or the 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 within 10 business days of the change by letter or in person at 1815 Egbert Ave, San Francisco, CA 94124.

 

Disclaimers

Applications can be received from 05/07/2025 starting at 8:00 AM to 05/21/2025 ending at 5:00 PM. After 5:00 PM on 05/21/2025, the waitlist lottery opening will automatically close. Applicants will receive a confirmation number to acknowledge successful transmission of their application. If selected for the waitlist through the lottery process, applicants will be notified of their selection.

 

The waitlist applicant is non-transferable and does not administer nor guarantee housing assistance.

 

Community Partners

The following community partners will be available to assist applicants in completing their online applications during the waitlist opening:

 

  • Catholic Charities

    • Address: 50 Broad Street

    • Hours: Weekdays, 9:30am-5:00pm

    • Phone: (415) 972-1200

  • Self Help for the Elderly 

    • Address: 408 22nd Avenue

    • Hours: Weekdays, 9:00am-5:00pm

    • Phone: (415) 677-7600

  • Institute on Aging

    • Address: 3575 Geary Boulevard

    • Hours: Weekdays, 8:00am-5:00pm

    • Phone: (415) 750-4111

  • Openhouse + On Lok Community Day Service

    • Address: 75 Laguna Street

    • Hours: Weekdays, 9:00am-5:00pm

    • Phone: (415) 296-8995

  • Sequoia Living (3850 18th Street)

    • Address: 3850 18th Street

    • Hours: Weekdays: 8:00am-4:30pm

    • Phone: (415) 872-9001; (415) 926-5328

  • Sequoia Living (Mission Dolores)

    • Address: 1855 15th Street

    • Hours: Weekdays: 8:00am-4:30pm

    • Phone: (415) 872-9843; (415) 872-5001

  • Sequoia Living (Woodside Gardens)

    • Address: 255 Woodside Avenue

    • Hours: Weekdays: 8:00am-5:00pm

    • Phone: (415) 682-7101; (415) 702-6112

  • Sequoia Living (25 Sanchez Street)

    • Address: 25 Sanchez Street

    • Hours: Weekdays: 8:00am-4:30pm

    • Phone: (415) 522-0203; (415) 867-7357

  • Sequoia Living (462 Duboce)

    • Address: 462 Duboce Avenue

    • Hours: Weekdays: 8:00am-4:30pm

    • Phone: (415) 522-0203; (415) 926-5755

  • Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco

    • Address: 1815 Egbert Avenue

    • Hours: Weekdays: 8:00am-5:00pm

    • Phone: (415) 715-5200

  • Bayview Hunters Point Multipurpose Senior Services

    • Address: 1753 Carroll Avenue

    • Hours: Weekdays: 9:00am-5:00pm

    • Phone: (415) 508-0847

  • Mission Neighborhood Centers

    • Address: 362 Capp Street

    • Hours: Weekdays: 8:00am-4:30pm

    • Phone: (415) 206-7752

  • Kimochi - Japantown

    • Address: 1840 Sutter Street

    • Hours: Weekdays: 9:00am-5:00pm

    • Phone: (415) 931-2294

  • Openhouse - Citywide Locations

    • Address: 65 Laguna Street

    • Hours: Weekdays: 9:30am-5:00pm

    • Phone: (415) 431-1481

 

Other Housing Authority Waitlists

While the Authority does not provide waitlist positions to applicants due to the ever-changing nature of the waitlist, we can confirm if applicants are active on the waitlist. Please refer to the Contact page to contact us regarding your status on the waitlist(s).

 

The Authority operates separate waiting lists for the following federal programs:

 

  • Housing Choice Voucher 

  • Project Based Voucher Buildings

  • Rental Assistance Demonstration Buildings

  • Public Housing

     

The Authority also administers housing programs that require the applicant to be referred by a supportive service agency. These include:

 

  • Emergency Housing Voucher Program 

  • Family Unification Program 

  • Foster Youth to Independence Initiative

  • Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing 

     

Please visit our home page at https://sfha.org for more information.