Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco

What Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco does

The Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco (SFHA) is a federally-authorized Public Housing Agency (PHA) established in 1938 to administer federal housing assistance programs for low-income households in San Francisco. SFHA operates two core programs: Public Housing, comprising directly-owned units at Plaza East Apartments and North Beach Place, and the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, which provides tenant-based rental assistance in the private market. Layered atop these are seven special-purpose voucher and self-sufficiency programs: Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV, sunsetting December 31, 2026), Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS), Homeownership, Family Unification Program (FUP), Foster Youth to Independence (FYI), Mainstream Vouchers (200+ allocations), and HUD-VASH (1,000+ vouchers for homeless veterans).

The Authority's operating model is grant-funded: HUD provides federal subsidies that flow through SFHA to landlords and participants. Residents pay 30% of adjusted monthly income toward rent, with a $25 minimum and a 40% cap in the HCV program's first lease year; flat market-based rents apply to some Public Housing units. Supporting services include Housing Quality Standards inspections, informal reviews/hearings, reasonable accommodations, and lottery-based waitlist management. Technology is conventional — a MyHousing portal for applicant intake, Microsoft Forms for program interest forms, Zoom for public meetings, and Google Translate for multilingual website content; no proprietary platform, AI/ML capability, or commercial software product is described.

SFHA's customer base is structurally non-commercial: very low- and extremely low-income households (≤50% and ≤30% of Area Median Income), homeless veterans, foster youth aging out of care, and non-elderly disabled adults. Demand is mediated by referral partnerships with the VA, the Human Services Agency (HSA), and the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH). Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the organization has no equity owners, no venture funding, and no acquisition or M&A activity — it is a government entity operating under HUD regulatory oversight (24 CFR).

Name

Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco

Legal name

Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco

Website

https://sfha.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco is a federally-authorized Public Housing Agency that administers Public Housing units and the Housing Choice Voucher program, plus special-purpose vouchers (VASH, Mainstream, FUP, FYI), serving low-income families, homeless veterans, foster youth, and disabled adults in San Francisco.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Housing Administration

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs (925110), Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (53111)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Voucher & Rental Assistance Programs (Tenant-Based/Project-Based) (FSALAKAI), Public Housing & Social Housing Development/Modernization Programs (FSALAKAH), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ), Affordable Rental & Multifamily Housing Finance Programs (LIHTC/Tax Credits/Subsidized Loans) (FSALAKAF), Fair Housing, Compliance & Housing Program Oversight (FSALAKAN)

Keywords

• Public housing programs
• Housing choice vouchers
• Affordable housing assistance
• Rental subsidy programs
• Section 8 administration

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Housing Assistance: The Authority receives federal funding from HUD to administer housing assistance programs including Housing Choice Vouchers, Public Housing, and special voucher programs. Revenue is in the form of federal grants and housing assistance payments, not commercial revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco administers federally subsidized affordable housing programs for low-income households in San Francisco. Its core offerings include the Public Housing program (SFHA-owned rental units) and the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program, which provides tenant-based and project-based rental subsidies. The Authority also runs targeted special-purpose voucher programs for veterans, foster youth, non-elderly disabled households, and emergency housing needs.

Product overview

The Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco operates as a Public Housing Agency providing housing assistance to low-income residents. The organization administers two primary housing programs: Public Housing (directly owned units at Plaza East Apartments and North Beach Place) and the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program (tenant-based rental assistance). Multiple special-purpose voucher programs operate within or alongside the HCV structure, including the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program, Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS), Homeownership, Family Unification Program (FUP), Foster Youth to Independence (FYI), Mainstream Vouchers, and VASH for veterans. Supporting services include waitlist management, HQS inspections, informal reviews/hearings, and reasonable accommodation services. The portfolio functions as a platform of interconnected housing assistance programs unified under HUD regulations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Housing Program
• Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program Federally funded tenant-based rental subsidy that allows eligible low-income households to rent privately owned units in San Francisco, with SFHA paying a portion of rent on the household's behalf subject to HUD eligibility and HQS inspection requirements.
• Project-Based Voucher (PBV) Program Rental subsidy attached to specific privately owned housing units rather than to the tenant, providing affordable rents at designated project-based sites in San Francisco.
• Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program Voluntary HUD program that helps Public Housing and HCV participants build financial stability through individualized goal planning, escrow savings accounts, and connections to employment, education, and supportive services.
• Homeownership Program Program that assists eligible HCV participants in transitioning from rental assistance to homeownership, providing counseling and ongoing homeownership support.
• Family Unification Program (FUP) Targeted voucher program for families with children involved in the child welfare system and for youth aging out of foster care, partnering with child welfare agencies to provide housing stability.
• Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Initiative Targeted voucher initiative providing Housing Choice Voucher assistance to young people aging out of the foster care system who are at risk of homelessness.
• Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Program Joint HUD-VA program that combines Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance with case management and clinical services from the Department of Veterans Affairs for homeless veterans and their families.
• Mainstream Voucher Program Targeted voucher program for non-elderly persons with disabilities, providing rental assistance paired with supportive services to promote community-based independent living.
• Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program Time-limited HUD-funded voucher program providing rental assistance and supportive services to individuals and families who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or otherwise in emergency housing situations, administered in coordination with local CoC and HSH partners.
• Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Inspections Federally required inspections of HCV and PBV units to ensure housing quality standards compliance before lease-up and on a scheduled basis thereafter.
• Waitlist Management Services Management of application intake, waitlist opening, lottery, and applicant communication for Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs.
• Informal Reviews and Hearings Procedural process through which applicants and participants can contest SFHA eligibility, denial, termination, or other adverse decisions.
• Reasonable Accommodation Requests Process for applicants and tenants with disabilities to request changes to rules, policies, practices, or services that allow equal access to SFHA's housing programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Families pay only 30% of adjusted monthly income toward rent
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)coreOthersHUD is the federal regulatory body that authorizes and funds public housing agencies. HUD sets rules and regulations via the Code of Federal Regulations 24 (CFR), determines funding levels, and establishes the formula for public housing rent calculations. The Authority operates under HUD oversight and receives federal housing subsidies through HUD programs.
• Human Services Agency of the City and County of San Francisco (HSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSA is the Authority's partner for the Family Unification Program (FUP) and Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) program. HSA refers FUP-eligible families to the Authority and provides case management and supportive services before and after families are housed. For FYI, HSA provides case management and supportive services to assist young people on their path to self-sufficiency.
• Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSH partners with the Authority on the Mainstream Voucher Program, bringing additional resources to supplement expiring EHV funding. HSH also coordinates on EHV transition planning and continues to fund service providers that support EHV households. The Authority can be contacted through HSH at [email protected].
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe VA partners with the Authority on the HUD-VASH program. Homeless veterans are screened by the VA and referred to the Authority. The VA provides case management and clinical services at VA medical centers, community-based outreach clinics, and through contractors to enable veterans to remain in stable housing.
• San Francisco HUD-VASH OfficecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe San Francisco HUD-VASH Office partners with the Authority for the HUD-VASH program serving homeless veterans. The Authority has over 1,000 HUD-VASH Vouchers and coordinates with this office for veteran housing placements.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA): Large municipal PHA administering HCV, public housing, and special vouchers under HUD oversight. Comparable in program architecture and reliance on federal appropriations.
• Chicago Housing Authority (CHA): Major-city PHA administering HCV, public housing, and supportive housing programs under HUD oversight. Directly comparable in program mix (HCV + special vouchers + FSS) and regulatory exposure.
• Boston Housing Authority (BHA): Municipal PHA operating HCV, public housing, and special-purpose voucher programs in a high-cost urban market. Comparable operating model and target population mix to SFHA.
• Los Angeles Housing Authority (HACLA): Another large California municipal Public Housing Agency administering HCV, public housing, and special voucher programs (HUD-VASH, FUP, FYI). Operates under the same HUD regulatory framework as SFHA, making program structures, funding dynamics, and compliance obligations directly comparable.
• District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA): Municipal PHA administering HCV, public housing, and local rental assistance programs in a high-cost, supply-constrained urban market similar to San Francisco. Comparable in program structure and target population.
• New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA): The largest PHA in the U.S., administering HCV and a deeply owned public housing portfolio under the same HUD framework. Comparable as a PHA peer despite scale differences; useful benchmark for federal funding mechanics and program architecture.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Federal regulator and primary funder of every PHA, including SFHA. Not a direct competitor, but the structural incumbent that sets program rules, funding levels, and compliance obligations across the entire PHA space.

Others

• Mercy Housing: National nonprofit affordable housing provider that develops and operates affordable and supportive housing, frequently partnering with PHAs on project-based vouchers. Included as a named ecosystem partner and adjacent operating model, not a direct competitor to SFHA.

Regional players

• Oakland Housing Authority: Bay Area PHA operating HCV and public housing programs in a neighboring jurisdiction to SFHA. Comparable regulatory and market environment, but serves Alameda County rather than San Francisco.
• San Mateo County Housing Authority: County-level PHA in the broader Bay Area administering HCV, project-based vouchers, and special-purpose vouchers. Comparable in program structure and HUD framework, with regional rather than city-level coverage.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sfha_news
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atenor-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco