San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie declares 'rent emergency' amid rising costs
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie declared a "rent emergency" Thursday and unveiled a package of proposals aimed at protecting tenants as housing costs continue to climb across the city.
Lurie said rents in San Francisco have increased more than 25% over the past year and more than 1,000 evictions have already been filed this year, prompting the city to take what he described as urgent action to help residents remain housed.
"We are taking the urgent action to tackle the rent emergency head-on and help San Franciscans stay in their homes," Lurie said.
The announcement comes as renters across the city continue to grapple with high housing costs.
"My roommate and I spend $5,000 a month on rent," Kim Nguyen said.
"My wife and I pay about $4,100 a month," said Tricia Hageny.
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"I have a two-bed, two-bath. We pay $4,800 a month," said Patrick Boulton. He has rent control and lives in the Pacific Heights neighborhood.
"Knowing how much my friends pay -- who are just renting now -- it's like six, seven (thousand) in Mission Bay. It's gone crazy," said Boulton.
According to recent reports cited in the broadcast, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco is about $4,000 per month.
ABC7 Eyewitness News talked to United Way Bay Area about the rent crisis and the growing costs of survival.
"We've created a real cost measure and we've estimated based on what things really cost in the Bay Area. In San Francisco, for a family of four, two adults, two children, they need to bring in $164,000 a year to afford the basic needs," said Karen Nemsick, director of Community Partnerships for United Way Bay Area.
Lurie's proposal includes six measures designed to protect renters. The initiatives include steps to delay evictions and prevent sudden rent increases, according to city officials.
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Housing advocates welcomed the effort.
Nemsick said the proposals address a growing affordability challenge.
"Here in San Francisco over the last 10 years, wages have gone up 7%, and rents have gone up. Even in this last year, up to 45%," Nemsick said.
She also pointed to eviction trends across the region.
"I have a stat that in the Greater Bay Area, between 2023 and 2024... 2,200 evictions were issued to renters in the Bay Area. And the great majority -- up to 92% of those -- were due to an inability to pay rent," Nemsick said.
The mayor's package would also provide tenants with additional information and resources to challenge what officials describe as unfair evictions and unlawful landlord behavior.
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Gail Gilman is with Eviction Defense Collaborative, which provides legal representation to San Francisco residents facing eviction.
"We are also really thankful to Mayor Lurie and the Board of Supervisors and City Attorney Chiu for seeing there is a crisis and introducing this package of protections, enforcement, and empowerment," said Gilman. "I think the legislative package is bold and will help, and I really think the investment in tenant right to counsel and tenant education is a key component."
Gilman went on to say, "by investing over $4 million in expanding right to council so that every San Franciscan can have free legal representation and a "Know Your Rights" campaign -- 'What is a just cause eviction? What can I be evicted for?' -- I think these are steps that can help stabilize the very tenants who are at risk of losing their housing."
Residents say the rising cost of housing affects people across income levels.
"San Francisco is very expensive. It's a tough place if you're not making enough money to afford it," Patrick Moulton said.
City leaders and housing advocates say the proposed reforms are intended to provide renters with greater stability as housing costs continue to rise. Supporters hope the measures will offer relief to residents struggling to remain in their homes.
