As HomeRise Winds Down, San Francisco Announces Plan to Protect Residents, Ensure Orderly Transition

SAN FRANCISCO — Today the City and County of San Francisco announces that it is working with HomeRise on an orderly, resident-focused transition of the organization’s housing portfolio, programs and services following HomeRise’s decision to wind down operations.

The City’s first priority throughout the transition is protecting HomeRise residents, preserving their housing and ensuring continuity of services. Residents are expected to remain in their homes, and the City will work to ensure that no one returns to homelessness as a result of HomeRise winding down.

After careful deliberation, HomeRise’s Board of Directors decided to undertake an orderly wind-down of the organization with residents’ housing and services remaining intact. The Mayor’s Office, the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD), and the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) are working closely with HomeRise to transfer its properties, contracts and operations to qualified, well-resourced housing and service providers.

HomeRise and the City agree that the organization’s current operating model is not sustainable over the long term and that an orderly transition is the best path forward for residents and programs. HomeRise has played an important role in providing supportive housing in San Francisco for decades, and the City’s focus now is preserving that work by ensuring that residents’ homes and services continue under stable operators.

Under the transition plan, MOHCD will lead the transition of HomeRise’s 14 owned properties, two leased properties, and nine associated Local Operating Subsidy Program (LOSP) contracts to qualified housing providers. HSH will lead the transition of eight City service contracts to providers capable of continuing the programs and services currently funded through those agreements. There are 1,304 units in the current HomeRise portfolio.

“MOHCD’s priority is to safeguard San Francisco’s long-standing investment in supportive housing and ensuring that every HomeRise property transitions to a stable, well‑resourced operator,” said Daniel Adams, Director, MOHCD. "We are committed to facilitating a process that maintains continuity of operations for the benefit of residents in the immediate term, while setting up these affordable housing assets for long-term success under new ownership."

The transition will occur over the next year + and will be carefully sequenced to minimize disruption to residents, services and building operations. Specific timelines and receiving providers will vary by property and contract. The City, HomeRise and incoming providers will coordinate as those plans are finalized, with residents receiving information about changes affecting their buildings.

“HSH’s primary focus during this transition is to ensure complete continuity of care for our residents. By carefully seeking qualified providers who share our commitment to stability and operational excellence, we are prioritizing the well-being of our community above all else,” said San Francisco Department of Homelessness executive director, Mike Levine.

HomeRise emphasized the same commitment to residents in its announcement of the wind-down. “Residents will stay in their homes. Their leases and rental assistance continue. On-site staff remain in place. The support residents rely on continues without interruption.” Don Falk, President of the Board, HomeRise.

HomeRise has provided supportive housing in San Francisco for more than three decades, originally operating as Community Housing Partnership. Its work has helped thousands of San Franciscans experiencing homelessness move into permanent housing.

The City will work with HomeRise, successor providers, investors, lenders and other partners throughout the transition. As transitions are finalized building by building, HomeRise and the City will provide residents and staff with additional information. HomeRise has committed to communicating with residents clearly and with time to prepare for changes affecting their building.

The City’s priority throughout this process remains straightforward: protect tenants and ensure continuity of services.