Let’s stay connected
Sign up for the monthly Habitat GSF newsletter to stay in touch and keep up to date on affordable homebuilding and homeownership in San Francisco, San Mateo & Marin counties.
Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco’s Home Preservation Program provides critical, major repairs to support low-income, long-term homeowners living in the City and County of San Francisco. These Home Improvement and Repair services address safety, accessibility, and deferred maintenance issues. Applications are open now and will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Our home repair services are made possible with the support of the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
How to Apply
Application
Fill out an Application Form today! Submit your completed application to [email protected]
Qualification
Gather the documents listed on the Application Checklist (attached to the Application Form) so we can confirm your eligibility for home repairs in San Francisco.
Have questions?
Get in touch at [email protected] or 415-625-1036. We can also schedule a one-on-one information session in-person or by phone.
Next Steps
Qualified applicants are offered a 0% interest loan, with no payments due until the end of the 30-year term or if the home is sold, whichever comes first.
Details about a loan with Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco:
Loan amounts between $25,000 and $75,000 are available for home improvement and repair needs in San Francisco. We are committed to working with qualified applicants to determine the loan amount that best suits their needs.
Home Repairs in San Francisco – Information Sessions
Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco will periodically hold virtual and in-person information sessions where you can learn more about home repairs in San Francisco. Details of these sessions and how to join will be listed on this page. Please get in touch if you would like to attend a future information session: [email protected] or 415-625-1036.
I worked for the city. I raised my children and volunteered in this very community. There is nowhere else I have called home.”
Home Repair Program Requirements
- Program beneficiaries must be an owner-occupant of the Home as their primary residence and have owned and lived in the Home for the last 10 years
- Beneficiaries must continue to occupy the Home as their primary residence during the life of the Loan
- Beneficiaries must complete 8 hours of sweat equity with support from friends and family
- Beneficiaries’ income must be at or below the maximum household incomes listed below (see chart below)
- Beneficiaries must have qualifying repair needs that fit HGSF’s level of service
- Beneficiaries cannot have filed chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcy within the last 7 years
- Beneficiaries must be current on property tax payments, mortgage payments (if applicable) and have homeowner’s insurance
- Beneficiaries must have no open judgements against their credit or be delinquent on any federal debt
Maximum Household Income
Requirements
| Number of Persons in Household | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Maximum Household Income | $104,400 | $119,300 | $134,200 | $149,100 | $161,050 | $173,000 | $184,900 |
Application Requirements
In addition to the program requirements and income guidelines, applicants must meet the following requirements: be willing and able to perform up to 8 hours of sweat equity (volunteer hours); attend workshops and volunteer in other Habitat programs.
If you have applied for a Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco home repair service in the past, you will need to submit a new application for these home repair services.
The selection process includes a review of your finances and credit, homeownership history, and residency. In addition, for Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco’s loan program the household must be low income with annual household income that is at or below the maximums listed in the chart above.
If you have any questions, please contact the Home Preservation Department at [email protected] or 415-625-1036.
Qualifying Neighborhoods for Home Repairs
All long-time homeowners who have lived in their residence for at least 10 years in San Francisco county are eligible to apply:
Examples of Home Repairs and Improvements:
- Roof repair or replacement, plumbing repairs, electrical repairs
- Re-piping and water heater replacement
- Carpentry needs such as replacement of broken stairs for safety of ascent/descent or other qualifying improvements
- Replacement of unsafe flooring
- Insulation and weatherization (e.g., windows, doors, insulation, ducting, thermostats, weather-stripping, etc.)
- Energy efficiency improvements
- Water heater repair or replacement
- Replacement of furnace and/or home heating and cooling equipment and ducts
- Health and safety improvements to kitchen and bathroom (e.g. hot/cold running water, appropriate ventilation, adequate lighting, removal of mold and water damage, ensuring complete bathing/sanitary facilities within each dwelling unit)
- Accessibility improvements (e.g. conversion of bathtubs to accessible shower units, widened doorways, ramps, lever handle knobs, handrails, etc.)
- Amenities and general/non-essential property improvements are allowed only after immediate health and safety repairs and emerging building code violations have been addressed, to enable the homeowner to remain safely in their home and not become displaced, and only based on loan availability. These improvements relate to the comfort of the occupants and general property improvements. Such amenity and general property improvements may include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following areas:
- Replacement of kitchen and/or bathroom fixtures, cabinets, and built-in appliances
- Installation of new carpet or flooring
- Interior wall restoration and interior painting
- Site improvements on the property such as replacement of deteriorated walkways (beyond repair of an incipient nature or one which may pose a threat to health and safety of the occupants, which shall be otherwise allowed as eligible repair)
- Fencing replacement or qualifying improvements, if dilapidated.
Not ready to apply yet? Fill out our interest form and we’ll get back to you with more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I pay for the repairs I need?
- Through this program, Habitat for Humanity GSF provides both the repair and the financing option needed to complete this repair. This means that Habitat GSF will act as the contractor and the lender. Habitat offers a fixed 0% interest loan. In addition, payments are deferred for 30 years or until you sell your home, whichever comes first. There are no monthly payments due, and borrowers are made aware of loan amount and loan terms.
- This is a great opportunity for those planning to remain in their home for the foreseeable future. This can also be the right fit for those concerned about having a monthly loan payment.
What is the minimum credit score to qualify for this program?
- Credit scores are not a requirement for this program, though other requirements do apply and are referenced in the application.
Is this loan a second mortgage or a reverse mortgage?
- No, this is a 0% interest loan that is secured with a deed of trust. Payment of the loan is not due until 30 years from the time you take out the loan or until you sell your home, whichever comes first.
What’s Habitat for Humanity GSF’s history with lending?
- Our organization has been operating as a lender providing special purpose credit opportunities to low-income residents for over 30 years. Our loans are designed to be accessible to those who may not qualify for traditional loans from banks.
How do I know if this loan and partnering with Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco is the right choice for me?
- Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco is a licensed contractor and has repaired over 200 homes since 2011 in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, and Bayview/Hunters Point. As a trusted mortgage lender, Habitat has been providing equal credit opportunities for low-income homeowners in the Bay Area for 32 years.
- Taking out a loan is a big decision. Habitat staff are available to answer your questions and help you through the application process. If you are interested, we encourage you to reach out to our staff.
How can I trust Habitat as a lender, I have seen a lot of people lose their home over the years due to subprime lending practices?
- Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco knows there is a history of institutional racism that has dramatically impacted low-income homeowners of color in the Bay Area communities we work in. This program was designed to help longtime homeowners, especially homeowners who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color, remain in their homes. This program is also designed to be more accessible to people who may not qualify for traditional loans from a bank. This loan has no required monthly payments AND a 0% interest rate. The 0% interest rate is locked in for the life of the loan and can never change. Our hope is that this program can keep long-term Bay Area homeowners in their homes. We believe that the best way to build trust is through transparency and we want applicants to be confident in their choice to partner with Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco for their home repair and home repair loan. Lastly, this may not be the right choice for every homeowner, and we hope that we can help you make an informed decision.
How do I know if this is the right program for me? I have deferred maintenance needs, but I am not sure if this program is the right fit.
- We understand getting a repair can be overwhelming. Our application guides you through questions about the current state of your home. If you are selected to move forward with the program after determining you are eligible from a financial perspective, we send construction staff to meet with you to go through your home and repair needs. Often, our staff may even see repairs you were not aware were necessary.
- Our staff will balance what you request with what your home needs to remain a safe and healthy place to live.
- This program is aimed at addressing large repairs that are necessary to keep your home in good working order. This program may be the right fit if you need one or more of the following repairs (this is not an exhaustive list):
- Roof repair or replacement
- Plumbing repairs
- Electrical repairs
- Insulation added to keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer
- Window(s) replaced
- Heating system replacement or repair
- Accessibility adaptation in your bathroom(s)
- Siding replacement
- Flooring replacement
- Energy efficiency upgrades
Will my repairs require a reassessment of my home's value?
Not all repairs or remodels require a reassessment. You can get more information from the San Francisco Office of Assessor-Recorder here.
Questions?
Please reach out to our Home Preservation team with any questions about out home repairs in San Francisco: [email protected] or 415-625-1036.