Find A Tenant Rights Group

This guide is for San Francisco renters. If you live outside of San Francisco, use this list of resources put together by the CA statewide organization Tenants Together.

Most organizations have switched to phone counseling or phone check-ins before scheduling 1-on-1 appointments when possible. See the list below for how to access services from Tenant Counseling and Legal Service organizations, and check their websites for the most up to date information. Go to our page on Rent Relief if you are looking for help making rent.

SAN FRANCISCO RENT BOARD: 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite #320, open to the public Monday-Friday, 10am-2pm. Phone counseling at (415) 252-4600 Monday-Friday 9am-noon and 1-4pm,. For filing of documents with few pages, including tenant hardship applications, scan and attach your documents in PDF format and send them to: rentboard@sfgov.org. Please indicate your name, phone number, the property address and case number, if any, in the email.

 

BILL SORRO HOUSING PROGRAM (BiSHoP) For help with affordable housing applications or tenant rights information. Phone counseling only: Please call (415) 513-5177 or email info@bishopsf.org and leave your name, phone number, the reason for your call, and the best time to reach you at and a housing counselor will follow up with you.
Languages: English, Arabic, Spanish, French
 
CAUSA JUSTA::JUST CAUSE (CJJC) Phone counseling only: Leave a voicemail at 415-487-9203 with your name, phone number, and a brief description of your problem.  A counselor will call you back as soon as possible.
Languages: Spanish, English
 
CHINATOWN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER (CDCC) In-person clinic still available, but please call if possible: 415-984-2730. Leave your name, phone number and a counselor will return your call. Drop-in clinic Mondays from 2-4pm & Thursdays 10:30am-2:30pm, 663 Clay Street San Francisco.
Languages: Cantonese, Mandarin, English
 
HOUSING RIGHTS COMMITTEE OF SF (HRCSF) Phone counseling only: call the numbers below and leave a message with your name, number, let us know if you are a HUD tenant or have Section 8 and a brief sentence about your issue: Mission Office – (415) 703-8634 (callbacks 1-5pm Mon- Thurs) Languages: English, Spanish, Cantonese and Mandarin Westside Office  – (415) 947-9085 (callbacks 9am-12pm Mon, Wed-Fri; closed Tues)
Languages: English, Russian, Cantonese and Mandarin
 
SAN FRANCISCO TENANTS UNION (SFTU) Counseling by phone or email.  Non-members are advised to fill out the form here. Members may use the form or call their members-only phone counseling number. The form will be emailed back to you (usually in less than 10 minutes)– then forward the form to info@sftu.org.  
 
SOUTH OF MARKET COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK (SOMCAN) Phone counseling only, Monday-Friday, 10AM-6PM by Appointment only. Appointments must be scheduled at least one day in advance. To schedule an appointment, please call or send a text message to (650) 273-6713. Appointments can also be scheduled here or send an email to tenantcounselor@somcan.org. Please leave your name, phone number, and a short message about your situation.
Languages: English and Tagalog
 
TENDERLOIN HOUSING CLINIC CEOP PROGRAM Only making in-person appointments after a phone consultation. Leave a voicemail at (415 )775-7110 ext.: 1702 or by sending an email to allyn@thclinic.org. Leave your name, phone number, and a brief description of your issue.
Languages: English and Spanish
CENTRAL CITY SRO COLLABORATIVE Central City SRO Collaborative and La Voz Latina are only making in-person appointments after a phone consultation with a staff member.  Call (415) 983-3970 (La Voz) or (415) 775-7110 (CCSROC).  
Languages: English and Spanish
 
CHINATOWN SRO COLLABORATIVE In-person clinic still available, but please call if possible: 415-984-2730. Leave your name, phone number and a counselor will return your call. How to See a Counselor: Drop-in clinic Mondays from 2-4pm & Thursdays 10:30am-2:30pm, 663 Clay Street San Francisco
Languages: Cantonese, Mandarin, English  
 
MISSION SRO COLLABORATIVE (MSROC) Telephone counseling only: leave a voicemail with your name, phone number, and a brief description of your problem. Someone will call you back as soon as possible. Spanish Hotline: ‪415 746-9610 English Hotline: 415-684-8316
Languages: English and Spanish
EVICTION DEFENSE COLLABORATIVE (EDC)  If you have received a Summons & Complaint (pictured here) or have been served a notice containing allegations of nuisance, call the legal assistance line as soon as possible: (415) 659-9184 or email: legal@evictiondefense.org. Visit our NEW OFFICE in person at 972 Mission St, 1st Floor.  Hours:  Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10-11:30am and 1-2:30pm.
Languages: English, Spanish, Chinese
 
AAAJ-ASIAN LAW CAUCUS By Appointment Only. If you need legal assistance on a housing issue, please call 415-896-1701. If we miss your call, please leave a voice/text message (Your name, phone number, and briefly describe the housing issue), and we will respond to you as soon as possible. The Housing Rights Program only provides legal assistance to San Francisco tenants. We prioritize cases involving eviction, reasonable accommodation, significant rent increase, landlord harassment, habitability issues, and change in terms of tenancy. We do not provide any services to landlords.
Languages: English, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Hindi  
 
LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE ELDERLY Appointments only. If you need legal assistance, please call (415) 538-3333. If you are an existing client, please contact your advocate directly for assistance. If you are a new client, please leave a message and we will return the call as soon as we are able. We are prioritizing the following issues: evictions; notices to cut or terminate benefits; notices terminating rental subsidies; restraining orders to protect seniors.
Languages: English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, Russian
 
OPEN DOOR LEGAL: Free legal representation in civil cases (including family, housing, immigration, and employment law) for residents of District 5 , 10 and 11, or SF residents who are homeless. Potential clients can call (415) 735-4124, fill out a screening form at opendoorlegal.org/start or walk in to the following locations during the weekday hours of 10 AM to 4:00 PM (closed 12-1). Everyone entering our offices must wear a mask and temperatures will be checked. 
Languages: English, Cantonese (Excelsior office or by appointment), Spanish (Bayview office or by appointment)
  • Bayview office located at 4634 3rd Street (for residents of zip codes 94107, 94124, 94134)
  • Excelsior office located at 60 Ocean Avenue (for residents of zip codes 94112, 94132)
  • Western Addition office at 1113 Fillmore St. (for residents of zip codes 94117, 94115, 94122, 94102, 94109)
TENDERLOIN HOUSING CLINIC (THC) Tenants seeking assistance should contact 415-771-9850 for an intake phone interview to determine whether a THC attorney will represent the tenant.
Visit our Rent Relief page for updates and resources
 
Eviction Defense Collaborative RADCO Program
For RADCo (rental assistance), call (415) 470-5211 or email EDCRADCo@evictiondefense.org and leave your: name, number and address. Someone from RADCo will contact you as soon as possible. 
Languages: English, Spanish, Chinese