By Lisa Aubrey, HANC President
Pre pandemic times were perilous enough for San Francisco tenants. Add a global pandemic with sweeping existential challenges like job loss, transit shut downs, food shortages, loss of elder and child care, school closures and a lack of health care for all, and you’ve got a local, statewide and national disaster on your hands.
A cursory Internet search reveals that as of March 26, 2021, there are 7,326 apartments listed for rent on Zumper, with a -24.3% year over year change in rents. While headlines trumpet that the SF rents have softened since the pandemic, our city remains the most expensive rental housing market in the nation, with the average cost of a 1 bedroom apartment listing for $2650.
Current figures (in San Francisco and nationally) underscore a glaring gap between rich and poor. At the start of the pandemic, thousands of well-paid workers fled the city to less expensive locations while continuing to keep their well-paying jobs and continuing to work remotely. At the same time, less fortunate San Franciscans struggle mightily to pay their rent and provide food for their families, especially in lower income neighborhoods like the Bayview, South of Market and the Tenderloin, where sheriff’s deputies have carried out nearly 3 dozen evictions since last Spring. Incredibly, after an eight-month pause, court-ordered evictions have resumed in San Francisco, harming some of our most vulnerable residents.
HANC is saddened to learn of the passing of Robert M. Leon in March, 2021. Robert served on the HANC Board from 2009 through 2011.