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Housing Thousands in SF Saddled With Rent Debt but Ineligible for Government Help
Thousands of San Franciscans who borrowed money to pay rent during the pandemic are stuck with that debt, making them worse off than those who let the bills lapse.
Federal relief funds cover only unpaid housing expenses. That leaves tenants vulnerable if they made good-faith efforts to pay those costs by taking on thousands of dollars of debt to credit card companies, payday lenders, relatives or friends — especially if they later seek different housing.
Report Calls SF’s Homeless Sweeps Practices Illegal Our Radio Station: Listen LiveSubscribe to Our Newsletter Recent Posts News How SF Renters Can Face Down the Eviction Wave and Stay Housed
Thursday marked the end of the statewide moratorium on evictions for unpaid rents due to COVID-19-related hardships, and by Friday landlords could begin the process to remove tenants.But the head of tenant legal defense in San Francisco wants renters to hear one message loud and clear: “You’re still protected.”
News Rent Payments to SF Public Housing Agency Plunged in Last Two Years, Spurring Eviction Fears
Rent collections by San Francisco’s public housing agency fell precipitously in late 2019 and have continued to decline to less than half of what is owed, according to a San Francisco Public Press analysis — but the agency can’t explain why.
Elected Officials Do Not Reflect Bay Area’s Diversity
In the ethnically and racially diverse Bay Area, local politicians have long been disproportionately white. Research shows that while more people of color have been running for and winning seats, they make up only slightly more than a third of the region’s elected officials. Some city councils are entirely white.
California Eviction Moratorium to Expire; Advocates Urge Renters, Cities to Act
Landlords may proceed with evictions against tenants for unpaid rent beginning Oct. 1 as a statewide moratorium on such evictions expires. Tenant, legal and public health advocates are urging tenants to apply for rent relief money, and want municipalities to approve additional protections, citing loss of housing as a public health concern.
San Francisco Rent Relief Tracker
With less than two weeks remaining in the moratorium on COVID-19-related evictions, requests for rent assistance have climbed above $130 million in San Francisco.
Low Vaccination Rates in Parts of Bayview Could Be Driving High COVID-19 Infections
Low vaccination rates in several pockets of the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood could help explain persistently high cases of COVID-19 in San Francisco’s southeast, recently released data indicates.
Transit Advocates Celebrate Muni, Flaws and All
As public transportation advocates and officials mark Transit Month in San Francisco and encourage riders to return to buses and trains, they are grappling with the reality that Muni needs, and has long needed, additional robust and long-term funding to meet the city’s transit demands.
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Earlier stories
State Extension of Eviction Moratorium Could Kill Local Tenant Protections
Inmates Fear Chauvin Conviction Could Mark an End to Outrage Over Police Brutality
SF Has Not Made a Single Payment From Federal Rent-Relief Program as Eviction Moratorium Poised to End
Lagging Rent Assistance Leaves Tenants Vulnerable to Eviction
SF Tenant Lawyers Anticipate Flood of Evictions
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►Decorative play icon links to post: Battling Despair Over a New Climate Change Reality
Climate Change | Sep 14 2021 | 3:19 pm Battling Despair Over a New Climate Change Reality
►Decorative play icon links to post: Local Veterans Reflect on ‘Moral Obligation’ to Afghans
Community | Aug 26 2021 | 3:44 pm Local Veterans Reflect on ‘Moral Obligation’ to Afghans
►Decorative play icon links to post: Organizers Rush to Help Afghan Refugees in Bay Area
Immigration | Aug 24 2021 | 1:56 pm Organizers Rush to Help Afghan Refugees in Bay Area More PodcastsSpecial ReportsDriving Home: Surviving the Housing Crisis
Photojournalist Yesica Prado takes us behind the scenes to tell the stories of the “vehicularly housed,” people living in cars, vans, RVs and campers. They—like many others in search of alternative shelter—are victims of a decades-long affordable housing crisis affecting the whole region.
Explore projectRide-Hailing’s Dark DataExplore projectData PrivacyExplore projectRenters vs. VeritasExplore projectRemaking Rent ControlExplore projectHomelessness Solutions: Part 2Explore projectHousing SolutionsExplore projectPrint Editions Issue 30: Winter 2020Ride-Hailing’s Dark Data: Secrecy cloaks rising accident reports.Issue 30: Winter 2020Ride-Hailing’s Dark Data: Secrecy cloaks rising accident reports.Issue 29: Fall 2019KSFP LP 102.5 FM Launches. Big Ticket Housing Plan faces S.F. VotersIssue 29: Fall 2019KSFP LP 102.5 FM Launches. Big Ticket Housing Plan faces S.F. VotersIssue 28: Summer 2019Power Switch: City builds case for pushing out embattled PGEIssue 28: Summer 2019Power Switch: City builds case for pushing out embattled PGEIssue 27: Spring 2019Taking on Big TechIssue 27: Spring 2019Taking on Big TechIssue 26: Winter 2019Digital Privacy: Who Surveils Those Who Surveil Us?Issue 26: Winter 2019Digital Privacy: Who Surveils Those Who Surveil Us?Issue 25: Spring 2018Remaking Rent ControlIssue 25: Spring 2018Remaking Rent ControlIssue 24: Spring 2018Immigration: Fighting to Stay. Legally in U.S. for years, thousands face deportation.Issue 24: Spring 2018Immigration: Fighting to Stay. Legally in U.S. for years, thousands face deportation.Issue 23: Fall 2017No Vacancy for the HomelessIssue 23: Fall 2017No Vacancy for the HomelessIssue 22: Summer 2017Navigating Homelessness: Which Way Home?Issue 22: Summer 2017Navigating Homelessness: Which Way Home?Issue 21: Spring 2017Sea Level Rise, Part 2: Wide West On the WaterfrontIssue 21: Spring 2017Sea Level Rise, Part 2: Wide West On the WaterfrontIssue 20: Winter 2017Bilingual SchoolsIssue 20: Winter 2017Bilingual SchoolsIssue 18: Winter 2016Consumer prices, housing: The high cost of living here.Issue 18: Winter 2016Consumer prices, housing: The high cost of living here.Issue 17: Summer 2015The Bay Area’s waterfront building frenzy includes at least $21B in housing and commercial construction in low-lying areas that climate scientists say could flood by the end of the century.Issue 17: Summer 2015The Bay Area’s waterfront building frenzy includes at least $21B in housing and commercial construction in low-lying areas that climate scientists say could flood by the end of the century.Issue 16: Winter 2015Despite their aspirations and efforts, San Francisco schools are increasingly segregated. Last school year, a single racial group formed a majority at six out of 10 schools. Our investigation tries to find out why.Issue 16: Winter 2015Despite their aspirations and efforts, San Francisco schools are increasingly segregated. Last school year, a single racial group formed a majority at six out of 10 schools. Our investigation tries to find out why.Issue 15: Fall 2014Attempts to alleviate homelessness with subsidized supportive housing are not keeping pace with growing demand. Reforms could give those waiting for a room an idea of when they might get off the streets or out of a shelter.Issue 15: Fall 2014Attempts to alleviate homelessness with subsidized supportive housing are not keeping pace with growing demand. Reforms could give those waiting for a room an idea of when they might get off the streets or out of a shelter.Issue 14: Summer 2014This experiment with solutions journalism paired reporting with the Hack the Housing Crisis conference to explore innovative ideas for keeping rents down and adding more housing while preserving San Francisco’s diverse communities and cultures. those waiting for a room an idea of when they might get off the streets or out of a shelter.Issue 14: Summer 2014This experiment with solutions journalism paired reporting with the Hack the Housing Crisis conference to explore innovative ideas for keeping rents down and adding more housing while preserving San Francisco’s diverse communities and cultures. those waiting for a room an idea of when they might get off the streets or out of a shelter.Issue 13: Summer 2014Reporters examined tax records from PTAs and data from the city’s public schools. While fundraising helped a small number of elementary schools avoid the worst effects of recent budget cuts, belts continued to tighten at schools with more economically disadvantaged students.Issue 13: Summer 2014Reporters examined tax records from PTAs and data from the city’s public schools. While fundraising helped a small number of elementary schools avoid the worst effects of recent budget cuts, belts continued to tighten at schools with more economically disadvantaged students.Issue 12: Fall 2013San Francisco spends more than ever on job training, placement subsidies and a slew of supportive services. Is this effectively boosting employment? For many programs it is hard to say, because the system is so fragmented.Issue 12: Fall 2013San Francisco spends more than ever on job training, placement subsidies and a slew of supportive services. Is this effectively boosting employment? For many programs it is hard to say, because the system is so fragmented.Issue 11: Summer 2013Climate Change: Regional efforts are taking aim at limiting greenhouse gas emissions. California’s cap-and-trade market promises major reductions. But loopholes abound.Issue 11: Summer 2013Climate Change: Regional efforts are taking aim at limiting greenhouse gas emissions. California’s cap-and-trade market promises major reductions. But loopholes abound.Issue 10: Spring 2013Under San Francisco’s 10-year-old minimum wage law the city recovered back wages for only a fraction of workers cheated by their bosses while technically the city boasted the highest minimum wage is the nation.Issue 10: Spring 2013Under San Francisco’s 10-year-old minimum wage law the city recovered back wages for only a fraction of workers cheated by their bosses while technically the city boasted the highest minimum wage is the nation.Issue 9: Winter 2013Thousands of homes in San Francisco are more vulnerable to earthquakes because of delays in mandatory retrofitting. Before this report was published, many landlords and tenants did not know their homes were among those needing upgrades.Issue 9: Winter 2013Thousands of homes in San Francisco are more vulnerable to earthquakes because of delays in mandatory retrofitting. Before this report was published, many landlords and tenants did not know their homes were among those needing upgrades.Issue 8: Fall 2012An investigation into San Francisco’s uneven response to domestic violence exposed holes in the tracking of criminal cases and a declining rate of prosecution for abuse within the home.Issue 8: Fall 2012An investigation into San Francisco’s uneven response to domestic violence exposed holes in the tracking of criminal cases and a declining rate of prosecution for abuse within the home.Issue 7: Summer 2012Regional planners hope to make more of the Bay Area like San Francisco — walkable, BARTable and energy efficient. But “smart growth” is facing resistance from cities, and financial pressure from the cash-strapped state.Issue 7: Summer 2012Regional planners hope to make more of the Bay Area like San Francisco — walkable, BARTable and energy efficient. But “smart growth” is facing resistance from cities, and financial pressure from the cash-strapped state.Issue 6: Spring 2012State budget cuts and unsteady leadership have hindered local law enforcement agencies and nonprofits trying to stop human trafficking. But signs of better coordination are emerging.Issue 6: Spring 2012State budget cuts and unsteady leadership have hindered local law enforcement agencies and nonprofits trying to stop human trafficking. But signs of better coordination are emerging.Issue 5: Winter 2011Under the Healthy San Francisco program — the city’s attempt at local universal health care — quality of the care is great. But with uncertain funding and high hidden costs maintaining the program is a challenge.Issue 5: Winter 2011Under the Healthy San Francisco program — the city’s attempt at local universal health care — quality of the care is great. But with uncertain funding and high hidden costs maintaining the program is a challenge.Issue 4: Fall 2011San Francisco’s budgeting process is broken. In a time of fiscal austerity, many city departments ignore audits that could save millions of dollars. Includes a take on the “participatory budgeting” trend.Issue 4: Fall 2011San Francisco’s budgeting process is broken. In a time of fiscal austerity, many city departments ignore audits that could save millions of dollars. Includes a take on the “participatory budgeting” trend.Issue 3: Spring 2011Half of Bay Area newspaper jobs evaporated in the past decade. What caused the media meltdown? Can tech media startups make up for what’s been lost?Issue 3: Spring 2011Half of Bay Area newspaper jobs evaporated in the past decade. What caused the media meltdown? Can tech media startups make up for what’s been lost?Issue 2: Fall 2010A report on Muni’s elusive quest for on-time service. The issue also includes stories on obstacles to reviving the city’s Mid-Market neighborhood, and a choose-your-own-adventure graphic on the future of Pier 70 redevelopment.Issue 2: Fall 2010A report on Muni’s elusive quest for on-time service. The issue also includes stories on obstacles to reviving the city’s Mid-Market neighborhood, and a choose-your-own-adventure graphic on the future of Pier 70 redevelopment.Issue 1: Summer 2010Report on the environmental and logistical challenges of adding thousands of new housing units to transform Treasure Island into an eco-enclave. Featuring an investigation into Macy’s selling doctored gems without proper labeling.Issue 1: Summer 2010Report on the environmental and logistical challenges of adding thousands of new housing units to transform Treasure Island into an eco-enclave. Featuring an investigation into Macy’s selling doctored gems without proper labeling. More Print Editions
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