San Francisco Emergency Rental Assistance Program (SF ERAP)

SF ERAP provides assistance to eligible San Francisco residents who have past-due rent due to a financial hardship or cannot afford security deposit for a new unit they have identified.

Financial assistance is available only to households most at risk of housing loss or homelessness. Funding is limited and SF ERAP will not be able to serve every household who meets minimum eligibility criteria.

To qualify for rental assistance, you must:

1. Be a current resident of San Francisco;
2. Be 18 years of age or older;
3. Have a household income at or below 50% of the Area Median Income* for the applicant’s size;
4. Be able to demonstrate a financial hardship that occurred within the past 12 months (if applying for back-rent assistance).
5. Not have received SF ERAP assistance in the last 12 months

In addition to meeting the above eligibility criteria, SF ERAP can only provide financial assistance to households at the highest risk of homelessness or housing loss. Due to limited funding, not all eligible households will be served.

Applicants seeking assistance with back-rent or move-in costs should apply through the online SF ERAP portal.

If you need help completing an online application, contact a community partner for assistance. As of August 2025, SF ERAP applications will be evaluated for eligibility for assistance from the Season of Sharing Fund, which is also administered by MOHCD.

If you have general questions about the program or the status of your application, you may contact the SF ERAP Helpline at (415) 653-5744 or help@sferap.org.