If you identify as homeless, you must request housing services through a Coordinated Entry Access Point, not Plus Housing.
- Access Points provide access, eligibility, problem solving, assessment, and housing referrals for people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco. Below are the phone numbers to connect with the Access Points.
If you are looking for a tenant based rental subsidy, please follow this link for a list of subsidy providers and eligibility.
Resources for Back Rent, One-Time Emergency Financial Assistance or Move-In Cost assistance, you may apply to the below community partners:
San Francisco Emergency Rental Assistance Program (SF ERAP) - online application
PRC Emergency Financial Assistance
What is the Plus Housing?
Plus Housing is a housing program through the San Francisco Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) for low-income people living with HIV. In this program, applicants apply to be referred for placement to subsidized units when they become available. Please note that current need is greater than the availability of resources.
How do I qualify?
In order to be eligible for the new Plus Housing program, an applicant must:
- Currently live in San Francisco
- HIV+ (An AIDS or disabling AIDS diagnosis is not required for general program participation, but is for some program resources)
- Not all persons in your household must be HIV+, but at least one must be
- Annual household income less than 50% of area median income (For 2025: $54,550 for a 1-person household, and $59,950 for a 2-person household). See AMI link for other household sizes
Note that some housing and subsidies placed by Plus Housing may have additional eligibility requirements. Also, if you don't qualify now, you can certainly apply in the future if/when you do qualify.
What do I need to apply?
You can apply to the program by submitting the online Plus Housing List form.
If you apply online, you'll get an immediate confirmation by email (if you provide an email address). MOHCD will not respond to your application unless you are selected for assistance. Paper applications are also available, either through Plus Housing Paper Application (PDF). Do not apply more than once; duplicate applications will be removed. If you need to change information you submitted on an application please email your information that needs updating. Thank you.
How are Plus Housing applicants prioritized?
The Plus Housing list ranks applicants in the following order and with the following criteria.
- Patients from Residential Care Facilities for the Chronically Ill (RCFCI) or Transitional Residential Housing Facility (TRCF) have top priority
RCFCIs/TRCFs provide temporary, supportive housing for persons with disabling HIV/AIDS and have a continued need for additional medical support and assistance with daily living. Clients being discharged from RCFCIs/TRCFs have top priority, to free up space at the RCFCI/TRCF for others that need that higher level of care. If you or the person you represent is an HIV+ person that needs supportive housing for a medical-related condition, email us at plushousing@sfgov.org. - Eligible transitionally housed applicants are entered into a lottery for each available unit.
- New Plus Housing applicants
- As of 1/23/25, there were over 800 active PLUS housing applicants awaiting assistance.
What is subsidized unit placement?
If you are currently unstably housed (transitionally housed, in treatment, etc.) and do not have a lease with your name on it, you may be eligible for placement to a subsidized unit where you will only pay 30% of your monthly income towards rent.
MOHCD works with several properties throughout San Francisco ensuring that certain units designated for people living with HIV/AIDS are filled when they become vacant. These units are typically subsidized through Section 8 or another subsidy provider.
However, unlike tenant-based subsidies that follow the tenant when they move. These units have a set subsidy that stays with the unit and does not follow the tenant when they exit. If you are in need of placement to a unit please go ahead and complete a Plus Housing application.
Because there are limited units available currently, applicants are selected through a random lottery. If an applicant is chosen through the lottery they will be contacted by MOHCD staff and will then be referred to a property that has an available unit where the applicant is eligible.
For more questions about unit placement, please email
What happens to my application after I send it in?
- You will only be contacted if we have a question about your application, or if you have been prioritized for placement.
- Note that if you are selected for unit placement, the following will be verified. If any of the following cannot be verified, the applicant may be removed from the Plus Housing applicant pool.
- HIV+ diagnosis letter
- Proof of income (two most recent pay stubs or if receiving public benefits/assistance - your most recent award letter)
- Proof of rent burden (current lease or program agreement)
- When housing subsidies and units become available, a MOHCD staff person will contact the top applicant deemed appropriate for (and interested in) the type of housing opportunity available. Note that a participant that turns down any subsidy or housing unit for which they've indicated interest may have to reapply for the program.
Note that if you submit an application that is not eligible for the program per the above guidelines, your application will not be considered and you will not be otherwise notified.
What happens if I want to change information on my application, or if my housing or financial situation changes?
You are responsible for keeping your application information updated. Email MOHCD. Do not submit more than one application; duplicate applications will be removed.
After I apply, can I find out where I am on the Plus Housing waitlist?
***Note that we cannot give you an exact rank on the list as applicants are selected through a lottery/random as noted above.
Is my information kept confidential?
Yes! The Plus Housing program fully complies with both the City of San Francisco's online Privacy Policy and with San Francisco's Administrative Code Chapter 12M, which requires us to obtain your consent before disclosing your information to any outside party.
By signing or submitting an application, you agree to allow us to share your information with our Plus Housing partners, but only as necessary to process your eligible application and deliver the services you requested.
Note that we reserve the right to make adjustments to program policies as needed, in order to serve the overall program aims and provide the greatest benefit to San Franciscans living with HIV.