Citywide HUD Alliance
Fighting Black Displacement
San Francisco’s Black population has drastically decreased over the decades, a result of deliberate and systemic racist housing policies that have targeted Black communities for displacement. From redlining and urban renewal to the destruction of the Fillmore’s "Harlem of the West," Black residents have been repeatedly forced out of their homes and neighborhoods. Today, this legacy continues as Black tenants in public and subsidized housing face the ongoing threat of eviction, poor living conditions, and displacement due to gentrification and predatory development.
The CITYWIDE HUD ALLIANCE is a Coalition of Residents from across San Francisco's HUD buildings and communities. Our mission is to come together, build collective power, and advocate for the vibrant, supportive, inclusive communities that we deserve.The days when our communities were siloed are gone; our collective power is unstoppable! We are not only fighting for our families today, but also for the generations to come, ensuring every resident has a voice and the ability to shape the neighborhoods they call home.
We bring together tenants in federally-funded housing programs to organize and protect their homes and neighborhoods, with a particular focus on preserving Black communities in the Fillmore and Bayview. Through tenant-led organizing, we’ve secured critical victories, including rent protections, improved building maintenance, and increased accountability from housing authorities.
By centering Black-led tenant organizing, we aim to shift the balance of power between tenants and the institutions that profit from displacement, driving systemic change to protect and preserve Black communities across San Francisco.
What We Do
We organize tenants living in federally-funded housing programs, including public housing and HUD-subsidized developments, to stand up against displacement, poor living conditions, and unfair treatment. Our approach focuses on building tenant power through:
Door-to-door outreach:
Engaging residents directly in their homes to understand their needs and invite them into the fight for their housing rights.
Leadership development:
Empowering tenants to become leaders in their buildings and communities by building organizing skills and confidence.
Tenant association support:
Helping tenants form new associations or strengthen existing ones, providing the structure needed to take collective action.
From gathering petitions to direct negotiations with housing authorities and property managers, we support tenants every step of the way, giving them the tools to advocate for themselves and their communities. Our work extends beyond individual buildings to challenge the systemic forces driving Black displacement in San Francisco, preserving the cultural and historical legacy of Black communities for generations to come.