San Francisco Ballot Measure Pushes City to Build New Type of Affordable Housing

September 28, 2026 - 02:18

A proposed ballot measure in San Francisco is pushing city officials to create a new category of affordable housing that supporters say could change how the city addresses its ongoing housing crisis. The initiative, known as Proposition I, would direct revenue from a real estate transfer tax toward the development of mixed-income social housing. Anti-displacement organizations are backing the effort, arguing that the current approach to affordable housing has not done enough to keep long-time residents in their neighborhoods.

Under the proposal, the city would build housing that serves people across a range of income levels rather than targeting only the lowest earners. Supporters say this model could reduce segregation and create more stable communities. The funding mechanism relies on a tax applied when properties change hands, with the revenue set aside specifically for construction and operation of these developments.

Opponents have raised concerns about the economic impact of the transfer tax, warning that it could slow real estate activity and reduce overall revenue. They also question whether the city has the capacity to manage a large expansion of publicly developed housing.

The measure comes as San Francisco continues to grapple with high rents, evictions, and a shortage of units that working families can afford. Community groups have spent months gathering signatures and building coalitions in support of the plan. If approved, the program would mark a significant shift toward a more direct role for local government in housing production. Voters will decide the measure's fate at the ballot box.