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The Housing Ladder Program

This is a program for people who live in Permanent Supportive Housing and no longer need intensive onsite social services.

About the program

The housing ladder program is for people who live in the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) funded permanent supportive housing and no longer need intensive services. This program allows them to transition into a more independent affordable housing setting that has a lower level of supportive services.  

Households pay up to 30% of their income in rent and the rest is subsidized. 

This program: 

  • Helps households maximize their independence. 
  • Frees up permanent supportive housing units with a higher level of services for other people who need them. 

Eligibility

To be eligible for the housing ladder program, households must:

  • Be a tenant in HSH-funded permanent supportive housing and have lived there for at least 2 years
  • Be in good standing, and have no unpaid rent due and no lease violations
  • Show readiness to move into more independent living

There are housing ladder programs for adults, families, and transitional aged youth.

Households must work with their case manager and property managers to apply.

To apply

Families

Families accepted into the program work with a provider to identify a unit in the private rental market. The maximum rent amount is determined by the number of people in the household and fair market rent. 

Application process:

HSH is no longer accepting applications for the family housing ladder program as of 5:00pm on May 24, 2024.

Adults

Adult Housing Ladder units are located across three apartment buildings in the Tenderloin neighborhood and one apartment building in the Mission neighborhood. The program is open to adults in permanent supportive housing, including those living in young adult sites; however, certain buildings may have population-specific requirements.

For confirmation regarding eligibility or building specifications, please contact housingladderprogram@sfgov.org.

Transitional Aged Youth (TAY)

TAY aged 18–29 accepted into the Housing Ladder program will be offered either a site-based unit in one of the three apartment buildings or will be referred to work with a provider to identify a unit in the private rental market. Referrals are made based on availability.

How to Apply:

Case managers should support applicants by completing the following steps:

  1. Assist the tenant with completing Housing Ladder Application, including the case management and property management forms. (See "Resources" section below for additional details.)
  2. Upload the completed application to the tenant’s Online Navigation Entry (ONE) System profile.
  3. Complete the Housing Ladder Application Portal online form

Resources

Housing Ladder Program Application

Housing Ladder Frequently Asked Questions

For more information contact: housingladderprogram@sfgov.org