From mortgage forbearances to eviction moratoriums, steps have been taken to protect those caught in this crisis.

If you can’t pay your rent or mortgage — you are not alone. Please read below for important information on actions you can take and protections available to you. 

And, shelter in place has been extended until May, with additional restrictions to protect public health. So far, San Francisco is showing that shelter-in-place can slow the spread of this virus. To be successful and save lives, we have to hold steady and stay strong.

We’ll have more updates on our office’s work soon. As always, please contact us if we can help in any way. We are working day and night to support and protect our neighbors — and we’re grateful to every neighbor stepping up to help.

Thank you,

SHELTER IN PLACE EXTENDED

This new Health Order extends and tightens the stay safe at home restrictions for another 26 days, through May 3, 2020.

Playgrounds, picnic areas, dog parks, golf courses, tennis courts, and pools must close.

Only certain limited types of construction are permitted to continue, there are additional guidelines for essential businesses to keep their customers safer, expanded protections for people experiencing homelessness, and additional restrictions on what businesses qualify as essential.

Read the order here.

There are 434 confirmed cases  and 7 deaths in San FranciscoWe are projecting a budget shortfall of at least $1 billion due to COVID-19, and our budget cycle has been pushed back, with the Mayor’s budget now scheduled for release on August 1.

Our sole focus right now is on addressing the public health and humanitarian crisis at hand. And, we will deal with the challenge of this shortfall when the time comes.

CENSUS DAY

The U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years. Responding to the 2020 Census is easy, safe and important, and is key to shaping the future of communities. Census statistics are used to determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives and informs legislative district boundaries. They also inform how hundreds of billions of dollars in public funds are allocated by state, local and federal lawmakers to communities for public services and infrastructure like hospitals, emergency services, schools and bridges each year over the next 10 years.

RESIDENTIAL RENTERS

STEP ONE: Each time the tenant misses a rent payment, they must notify the landlord that they were unable to pay rent due to financial impacts of COVID-19 within 30 days after the date the rent was due.

STEP TWO: The tenant has one week to provide the landlord written documentation that the rent payment was missed due to financial impacts of COVID-19.

STEP THREE: If the tenant has followed the two-step process described above, the tenant shall have six months after the Order’s Expiration Date to pay the rent owed, before the landlord may attempt to recover possession due to the missed rent payment.

Click here for Guidance for Tenants and Landlords on the Temporary Moratoriums on Residential Evictions.

Fact Sheet and Sample Letter to Landlord in English
Sample Letter to Landlord in Spanish
Sample Letter to Landlord in Chinese
For additional tenant assistance, please contact Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco at 415- 703-8644, Chinatown Community Development Center at 415-984-2728, San Francisco Tenants Union at 415-282-6622, or visit the San Francisco Anti-Displacement Coalition’s website: www.sfadc.org

HOMEOWNERS

There is a statewide agreement with many lenders to offer mortgage payment forbearances of up to 90 days to borrowers economically impacted by COVID-19. However, you must reach out to your bank ASAP.

Under the Governor’s proposal, Californians who are struggling with the COVID-19 crisis may be eligible for the following relief upon contacting their financial institution:

• 90-Day Grace Period for Mortgage Payments
• No Negative Credit Impacts Resulting from Relief
• Moratorium on Initiating Foreclosure Sales or Evictions
• Relief from Fees and Charges

You can read more here.

Here is an ongoing list of financial institutions that have agreed to provide the mortgage and fee relief listed above.
In addition,

COMMERCIAL RENTERS

The City has ordered a moratorium prohibiting commercial and residential evictions due to nonpayment until at least May 3rd. The temporary prohibition is aimed at stabilizing small- to medium-sized businesses (those with less than $25M in gross receipts) and residents impacted by COVID-19. For more information, visit the Mayor’s Press Releases here and here.

Commercial lease assistance is available. 

The City partners with the Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights to help SF small businesses (“mom and pop shops”) at risk of displacement with lease review and negotiation and related services. Enroll here.

Find more resources for businesses here.