Certificate of Preference is a document issued by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency (“Agency”) to displaced residents and businesses in
the 1960’s when the Agency was implementing its federally-funded urban renewal program. This Certificate gives such households preferential consideration for Agency-sponsored housing and business opportunities in Redevelopment Project Areas.
For all housing opportunities, the Agency gives special priority to holders of Certificates of Preference. These Certificates were issued to households that were displaced by redevelopment activity in the 1960's and early 1970's, specifically in the Western Addition and in Hunters Point. The Agency maintains a mailing list of all households in this program. For additional information, see below or call the Certificate hotline at 415-749-2432. If you believe that you are entitled to such a Certificate or if you are a Certificate holder who has not been receiving special mailings, please contact Adrienne Anderson at 415-749-2497.
Please note that Certificate Holder status provides first priority for housing opportunities offered through the Agency. Certificate Holders are required to meet any program eligibility requirements for the housing for which they are applying, such as income, household size, homeownership status, etc.
In June 2008, the Redevelopment Commission approved a new Home Buyers Assistance Program specifically for Certificate Holders. This new program will offer silent second loans and matching funds for Individual Development Accounts for home purchases in San Francisco. These new resources will likely be available starting in the fall of 2008. Stay tuned for further details.
You may find the documents below helpful in learning more about the Certificate of Preference Program. The first file is list of Frequently Asked Questions about the Certificate Program with answers. The second document is the formal set of Certificate of Preference Program Rules adopted by the Redevelopment Agency Commission.
If you would like someone to contact you about the Certificate Program, please fill out the form below with as much information as possible, including the address from which your family was displaced (if known), parents names if they were the heads of household, etc. Please click here to submit an online form
You may print out, fill in Certificate of Preference Search Request 
form and send it to the Agency to request information about your specific situation.
