Housing Authority approves HCV administrative changes to speed PBV/RAD placements

The San Francisco Housing Authority on April 25 voted unanimously to amend Chapter 4 of its Housing Choice Voucher administrative plan to streamline referrals and fill vacancies at project‑based voucher (PBV) and Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) sites.

Housing Authority attorney Zawadi Langa told commissioners the revisions permit city partners — specifically the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (DHSH) and the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) — to refer applicants for specified PBV/RAD sites before the authority finalizes use of its own wait list. The change is intended to accelerate lease‑ups at newly awarded sites where vacancies exist now.

The amendments also add rules for "prequalifiers" (site or unit‑level eligibility such as senior, veteran, or supportive‑services need), clarify how site‑based wait lists and streamlined wait lists will be opened, and limit offers to a maximum of three unit offers per wait list with specific good‑cause rules for refusals, Langa said. If no referrals come from city partners within 30 calendar days, the authority will fill vacancies from its wait list.

Langa said the authority is also adding a "public housing emergency transfer" preference to the local RAD/PBV site‑based preference list to provide more options for public‑housing residents on the authority's emergency transfer list.

Commissioners asked about outreach; staff said they coordinated the changes with DHSH, MOHCD and property managers, and consulted probation and DPH on preference language (the term "formerly incarcerated" was replaced with "justice involved" to reflect contemporary, humanizing terminology). Some larger changes that require broader community input will be considered in the annual plan revision process, staff said; the board approved immediate implementation because delaying until the annual process could leave units vacant between May and October.

Elizabeth Hewson of DHSH and a public commenter both endorsed the amendments at the meeting. The board approved the resolution by roll call: Commissioners Pikes, Kim, Lindau and President Torres voted Aye.

Outcome: the amendments were approved for immediate implementation; staff said they will publish the updated site‑based wait‑list exhibit and ensure referring entities and property managers receive instructions to coordinate referrals.