SF ERAP & SOS - Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

What are SF ERAP and Season of Sharing and how do they differ?

The San Francisco Emergency Rental Assistance Program (SF ERAP) is a community-based program jointly administered by the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development and the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing aimed at keeping the City’s most at-risk tenants in their homes as part of the City and County of San Francisco’s anti-displacement and homelessness prevention efforts.

The Season of Sharing (SoS) program aims to keep San Francisco residents stably housed by providing emergency financial assistance for housing or other critical needs. The program is administered by MOHCD with support from the Season of Sharing Fund. Starting in August 2025, SOS rental assistance applications are processed through the SF ERAP online portal.

What types of assistance are provided by SF ERAP?

• Back rent accrued because of a financial hardship which has impacted household’s ability to pay rent within 12 months of applying for assistance.
• Limited future rent assistance may be provided depending on the situation. Please connect with an SF ERAP case manager to confirm your eligibility for future rent assistance.
• Move-in assistance within or outside San Francisco (security deposit and/or first month rent)

What types of assistance are provided by Season of Sharing (SoS)?

• Back rent accrued because of a financial hardship which has impacted the household’s ability to pay rent within 6 months of applying for assistance.
• Up to 1 month of future rent may also be provided depending on the situation.
• Move-in assistance within or outside San Francisco (security deposit and/or first month rent)
• Critical needs assistance, including furniture, past-due utilities bills, or medical equipment. Visit the Season of Sharing program page for more information on critical needs assistance.

What proof will I need to provide SF ERAP / SoS?

SF ERAP / SoS requires verification of the following:

• Personal identification
• Verification of where you live
• Verification of household income
• Verification of rent owed or move-in assistance needed
• Proof of recent financial hardship (if applying for back rent assistance)

Learn more about acceptable documents

What do I do if I don’t have all the required paperwork?

Please submit your rental assistance application, coordinate with your landlord/master tenant, and do your best to gather as many documents as possible. This will speed up your application processing time. The case manager assigned to you will work with you to gather the necessary documents.

I haven’t heard back about my rental assistance application, what should I do?

Due to the high volume of applications, it may take six weeks or longer to hear back about your application. In the meantime, ensure that you have all the required documents. If you selected a specific SF ERAP Provider to work with on your application, you may reach out to them to ask about the status of your application. You may also contact the SF ERAP Helpline at (415) 653-5744 or help@sferap.org.

How will my rent be paid through SF ERAP / SoS?

If your application is approved, your landlord/master tenant will receive a check from one of our SF ERAP Providers. If your landlord/master tenant refuses to participate in the program, your case manager will work with you to identify other ways to provide rental assistance.

For Season of Sharing, your landlord will receive a check from the program’s fiscal agent, Holy Family Day Home.

Eligibility Questions

Who is considered part of my 'household'?

‘Household’ refers to a single person or group of people living together who depend on the same income or share income (regardless of marital status, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity). Others living in the same home who you do not share income with (such as roommates), but who need rental assistance, should apply as separate households. Please note that ‘Household’ includes children who may be temporarily away from the home because of placement in foster care.

What if I’m sub-leasing my home through a master tenant?

SF ERAP can help cover your missed rent even if you are a sub-tenant. In those cases, payment will be provided directly to the master tenant to whom you are paying rent, or to the owner of the residence. However, SoS does not pay tenants or master tenants directly. Your assigned case manager will conduct a full assessment of your situation.

Will SF ERAP / SoS ask about my immigration status?

No. Eligible households are encouraged to apply, regardless of immigration status, and assistance is not considered in a public charge determination.

How often can I apply for rental assistance?

You may be eligible for assistance through SF ERAP once every 12 months (counting from the date of previous application approval). You may be eligible for assistance through SOS once every 5 years. Please keep in mind that SF ERAP and SOS are emergency assistance programs, not long-term subsidies, and assistance is not guaranteed.

Am I still eligible for SF ERAP or SOS if I received financial assistance from another program?

You may still be eligible for rental assistance for months not already covered by another program. The case manager assigned to your application will help determine your eligibility.

What do I do if I need financial assistance but am ineligible for SF ERAP / SoS or have maxed out the amount of financial assistance available?

You are encouraged to work with our SF ERAP Providers any time you experience income and/or housing instability to help you access additional assistance, such as other financial assistance programs, legal services, employment services, etc.

I’m a landlord with a tenant who owes rent. Can I apply for rental assistance?

Landlords cannot apply to SF ERAP or SoS on behalf of their tenants. If you have a tenant who needs rental assistance, encourage them to apply at www.sferap.com themselves or with the help of a community partner. As a landlord, you may reach out to the San Francisco Apartment Association or a professional neutral such as a mediator with the Bar Association of San Francisco (CIS Program at (415) 782-8940 or cis@sfbar.org) for additional support.

Legal Questions

What do I do if I’ve received an eviction notice (such as a “3 Day Notice to Pay or Quit”)?

Please contact a tenant counselor at any of the agencies listed under ‘Get help from a tenant counselor’ on the community partners page.

What do I do if I’ve received eviction court papers (aka “Unlawful Detainer”)?

If you have received an Unlawful Detainer, you only have 5 days to file a response with the court. Those days do not include Saturdays, Sundays, or court holidays. Please contact the Eviction Defense Collaborative’s (EDC) at (415)659-9184 or email legal@evictiondefense.org immediately after receiving court papers.

Financial assistance may be available if you are in court facing eviction – contact EDC to learn more.

I’m a tenant with rental debt and my current/former landlord is taking me to small claims or civil court to collect this debt?

While tenants may be protected from eviction under certain circumstances, the rental debt is still owed – it is not forgiven. Speak with an attorney with Bay Area Legal Aid’s Consumer Rights Clinic (held every 2nd and 4th Thursday). By appointment only - call (415) 982-1300 to schedule.