Find A Tenant Rights Group

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, Tagalog
 
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, in-person counseling is available by appointment only at the Main Office: 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:
Main 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) In person drop-in counseling, no appointment necessary. Hours are listed at sftu.org/schedule Non-members are advised to fill out the form here. Members may use the form or call their members-only phone counseling number.
Languages: English
 
SOUTH OF MARKET COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK (SOMCAN) In-person and phone counseling, Monday-Friday, 10AM-5PM by Appointment only. Appointments must be scheduled at least one day in advance. To schedule an appointment, please call 415-255-7693 (English) or 415-552-5637 (Tagalog). 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. 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 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. (415) 282-6209 
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 976 Mission St.  Hours:  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10-11:30am and 1-2:30pm.
Languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese
 
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 (leave your name, phone number, and briefly describe the housing issue), and we will respond to you as soon as possible. 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 Spanish  
 
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.
Languages: English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish
 
OPEN DOOR LEGAL: Free legal representation in civil cases (including family, housing, immigration, and employment law) for residents of Districts 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 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). 
Languages: English, Cantonese (Excelsior office or by appointment), Spanish (Bayview office or by appointment)
  • Bayview office located at 4634 3rd St.
  • Excelsior office located at 60 Ocean Ave.
  • Western Addition office at 1113 Fillmore St.
  • Sunset office at 1722 Irving St.
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
If you are currently unhoused, living in a shelter, or living in a vehicle, you have rights to your belongings and rights with the police in public spaces. There is also help available for finding food, shelter, medical services, legal help, and more.

 

WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS?
City policy requires 72 hour notice of encampment removals, and you have the right to get your belongings back if they are taken by the city. It is a good idea to document your belonging in any way you can and tag them to show they are not abandoned. You also have rights during encounters with law enforcement. You can learn more about these rights here in this helpful guide created by the Coalition on Homelessness.
If you are living in your vehicle, you may be able to get a fee waiver if your car is towed or get parking tickets fines reduced or dropped, and can sign up for notification before your vehicle is towed here. Find more information about where to get help in the legal support section of this list of resources.
If you are staying in a shelter, you also have rights. The Shelter Client Advocate Program at EDC can help. Find more information here: https://evictiondefense.org/services/shelter-client-advocacy/
 
WHERE CAN I GET HELP?
The Coalition on Homelessness has gathered a list of services/resources here. This list includes basic necessities distribution centers, shelters, legal support, and medical services. For assistance or more information, please contact the Coalition on Homelessness at 280 Turk St/415-346-3740 from Monday-Thursday (9am-5pm) & Friday (9am-noon). 
The SF Service Guide is an online directory of homelessness and housing services in San Francisco. Anyone with access to a smartphone, tablet, or computer can use the guide to learn about a variety of programs from education to legal aid to seniors services: https://www.sfserviceguide.org/