City Council Approves Expansion of Rent Assistance Program
The San Francisco City Council voted to expand its Emergency Rent Assistance Program, providing $50 million in additional funding to help tenants struggling with rising rents. The program will now cover up to six months of back rent for low-income residents facing eviction, with priority given to families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.
“This is about keeping people in their homes,” said Supervisor Dean Preston, who championed the expansion. The city has seen a surge in eviction filings as rents reach record highs, exacerbating the homelessness crisis.
Tenant advocacy groups welcomed the move, calling it a necessary step to prevent further displacement. Landlord associations, however, argued that the program doesn’t address the root causes of the affordability crisis. City officials pledged to pair the assistance with long-term housing policies aimed at stabilizing the rental market.
