Evictions, Rent Relief and Tenants Rights!

Editor’s note: The controversial AB 2179 was passed at the state level this month, ending eviction protections for San Francisco residents impacted by COVID-19 financial hardship. While the legislation protects the thousands of tenants who are waiting for the state to send rent relief checks or review applications for those who applied before April 1, it fails to protect those who have not yet applied. Advocates say these may include tenants with less access, such as monolingual residents and those with disabilities. The state bill also prohibits multiple localities from implementing their own eviction protections if they were not in place before Aug. 19, 2020, meaning it would kill San Francisco’s current moratorium extension.

On April 11, Radio Teco will air its latest podcast episode of Latina Latino Latinx News, where Causa Justa’s Organizer and Housing Counselor Araceli Catalan, talks about San Francisco’s housing crisis, changes in COVID-19 related rent relief and the fight for tenant’s rights.

Tenants who had applied for the Emergency Rental Relief Program (ERAP) before the end of the program on March 31st, and still have a pending application will be protected from eviction until at least July 1.

San Francisco tenants who have not applied for rent relief or are still in need of assistance after state rental relief funds have been dispersed, can apply at stayhousedsf.com for the city of San Francisco’s rental assistance program.

The San Francisco rental assistance program applies to all residents of San Francisco, and does not require citizenship.

If you need; assistance with rent for April 2022 or later; security deposit and/or first & last months rent for a unit you are planning to move into; assistance for unpaid rent before April 2020; exceeded or, if you were denied, or did not apply for rental assistance from the California Rent Relief program, you are eligible for assistance.

You have rights and agency to your home and your quality of living. Please apply for these programs, as they are here to help. If you need help applying, or if you feel any of your rights have been violated by your landlord, these organizations offer counseling in San Francisco for code enforcement, evictions, repairs, harassment, and tenant rights:

Eviction Defense Collaborative
Call: 415-659-9184
Email: legal@evictiondefense.org

Bill Sorro Housing Program (BIsHOP)

For help with affordable housing applications, DAHLIA applications, and tenant rights information.

Phone counseling only: (415) 513-5177 or email info@bishopsf.org

Languages: English, Arabic, Spanish, French

CAUSA JUSTA::JUST CAUSE (CJJC)

Phone counseling only: Leave a voicemail at 415-487-9203

Languages: Spanish, English

1-5PM Call backs Mondays & Fridays
Call and leave a Name, telephone and short message

CHINATOWN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER (CDCC)

Please call: 415-984-2730

Drop-in clinic Mondays from 2-4pm & Thursdays 10:30am-2:30pm, 663 Clay Street San Francisco.