Good Policy | Two Ways San Francisco Can Build 46,000 Affordable Homes

San Francisco has a state mandate to create 46,000 affordable homes by 2031 — and no funding plan for the estimated $19B price tag. 

It’s not that there aren’t creative tools to use — including for tough-to-fund “missing middle” housing. But there’s long been a lack of political will to go beyond traditional, cautiously iterative tools.

In Part 3 of our 5-part Good Policy series on affordable housing financing, SF PROPEL breaks down the need for workforce housing — and two tools City Hall can implement today to fund it. 

Learn how the Workforce Housing And Middle Income (WHAMI) program works, as well as how a “Goldilocks” model can generate public financing that’s “just right” for this market. Not too hot, not too cold — modest returns, stable rents, and a recycling engine that keeps essential workers housed.

The clock is ticking on real solutions to our affordability crisis. Educators, artists, healthcare workers, first responders, and bus drivers are being priced out of the city they keep running. WHAMI could fund housing for them today, without a ballot measure or a new tax. All it needs is political will from the Mayor’s office to get things going. 

San Francisco has the public support  for progressive policies. What’s missing is bold leadership to implement a toolkit to meet the moment.