The housing crisis in San Francisco just got a whole lot messier. With eviction rates skyrocketing and legal aid facing brutal budget cuts, our city’s most vulnerable residents are staring down the barrel of potential homelessness.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

In just the first few months of 2025, San Francisco has already seen nearly 930 eviction lawsuits filed - a staggering 57% increase from last year. Most of these cases stem from non-payment of rent, with some tenants owing tens of thousands of dollars in back rent.

A Budget Bloodbath

The Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development is proposing to eliminate $4.2 million in general civil legal services, which could potentially impact seven nonprofit organizations that provide critical support to low-income residents. These cuts aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet - they’re people’s lifelines.

The Human Cost

Legal aid isn’t just about paperwork - it’s about keeping people housed, protecting their rights, and preventing a cascading economic disaster. One client, Maria Antonia, shared how legal support literally saved her from being homeless, highlighting the critical role these services play in our community’s survival.

As Ora Prochovnick from Eviction Defense Collaborative bluntly put it: if we want San Francisco to remain the diverse, vibrant city we love, we can’t afford to push out our most vulnerable residents. The clock is ticking, and the stakes have never been higher.