Eviction Defense Collaborative (EDC): Provides legal assistance (at low cost and/or sliding scale) for persons with eviction papers (unlawful detainer), a notice to vacate from the sheriff or a notice to defendants from Superior Court that an unlawful detainer has been filed. Help with proper paperwork but don’t necessarily represent in court.

Right to Counsel Program: Attorneys provided in eviction cases.

Tenderloin Housing Clinic: For Ellis Act eviction defense.

Legal Assistance to the Elderly: Also serves disabled.

Open Door Legal: Serving Western Addition and Bayview/ Hunters Point.

Bay Area Legal Aid: For very low income renters (incl. HUD subsidized housing is. Section 8, Public housing)

Justice and Diversity Project: Tenant Advocacy Project (TAP). General tenant issues. Drop in legal clinic for Low Income households.

AIDS Legal Referral Panel

Asian Law Caucus: Focus on serving low-income, immigrant, and under-served Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. English, Cantonese, and Spanish.

Homeless Advocacy Project: Provides legal and supporting social services to individuals and families who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness.

SF Bar Association: Referral Service: $35 for the referral, which includes the first 30-minute consultation.

HRCSF Private Attorney List: Our list of private attorneys that represent tenants.

Disability Rights CA Housing Stability Project: For tenants with disabilities.

Meditation Services

Community Boards

SF BAR Conflict Intervention Services

Alternative Dispute Resolution Services through the SF Rent Board

Rental Assistance Programs

The City’s key Rent Assistance program is the SF Emergency Rent Assistance Program (ERAP).

AIDS Emergency Fund: Rental assistance for people with HIV/AIDS.

Breast Cancer Emergency Fund: Rental assistance for men and women in treatment for breast cancer.

Catholic Charities: Rental assistance/security deposit help for families and singles.

Compass Point: Rental assistance for homeless families.

Family Services Agency: CalWORKs Housing Support. For CalWorks clients. Offers financial assistance and rental assistance, security deposits, utility payments, moving costs, hotel and motel vouchers, landlord recruitment, case management, housing outreach and placement, legal services, and credit repair. Call CalWORKs at (415) 557-5100.

Glide Church: Rental assistance and help with deposit. Walk in.

Homeless Prenatal: Rental assistance for pregnant people and families with children.

Swords to Plowshares: For Veterans.

Independent Living Resource Center (ILRCSF): Provides basic housing information and guidance with a focus on tenants’ rights, fair housing, and advocacy, in addition to assisting consumers in the application for emergency rental assistance funds.

Courts

Small Claims Court

To recover security deposits and for lawsuits $10,000 and under. Also useful for tenants who are not under rent control.

Small Claims Court guide

Superior Court

To look up eviction cases

Self Help resources for Evictions

Drop in Eviction counseling at the Access Center.

City Agencies

SF Public Defender’s Clean Slate Program

Expunging criminal records that interfere with the ability to get housing.

Dept. of Public Health

Report building condition problems (mold, lead, rodents, pests and other health & safety issues)

Rodent/ Vermin issues

LEAD Poisoning and Prevention

Request a lead inspection: call 415-252-3800

Report damaged paint with residents older than 6

FIXLead SF

Report Asbestos in your home

Assessors Office

To check the legal status of units, building ownership, and other property info. You can also check the year your building was built (and the number of units it has), and thus determine if it’s under rent control. You can find your landlord’s address there, but not her name.

Dept. of Building Inspections (DBI)

You can call this department to report problems, such as leaks, lack of heat and broken or unsafe stairs as well as electrical and plumbing repairs. An inspector will come to your apartment and write up a notice of violation. If the landlord does not make the repairs, he can be fined and brought to a director’s hearing.

NOTE: For illegal units (or if you suspect your unit is illegal) check with us first! Units that are sometimes illegal: Garage, in-law, basement or those with a letter or fraction next to the number (e.g., 39A, 39-1/2).

To research or track cases and complaints about your building or landlord: Department of Building Inspection.

File a complaint and/or request an inspection here.

SF Human Rights Commission

Investigates and mediates complaints about discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations. Also enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which mandates that a landlord make reasonable accommodations for disabled persons, such as putting in hand bars in bathtubs and allowing service and companion animals even if a lease says no pets.

City Attorney

Responsible for enforcing the health and safety code, the housing code, the building code and the fire code against owners of blighted property in SF. To report a code enforcement complaint about a property owner who is not maintaining the property or allowing for criminal activity.

SF Rent Board
For information about tenant’s rights under rent control, to file a petition for illegal eviction, illegal rent increase, etc. Runs a free counseling line daily 8am-4pm.

Planning Department
Information on planning issues. Useful for protesting new construction in one’s neighborhood. Reviews private development projects and proposed capital improvements projects and other physical projects involving city property.

Sheriff’s Department

EVICTION Information