1. Utilizing

Federal and State

Programs

​

Office to Residential 

Conversion Program:

​

The Biden administration's program, 

provides financial incentives, 

tax breaks, 

and streamlined zoning processes 

to reduce conversion costs.

​

Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC):

​

This federal program’s

tax credits 

to developers

to build housing 

could be crucial 

to making the project

financially viable.

​

Section 202 

Supportive Housing for the Elderly:

​

This HUD program 

provides funding 

to develop affordable housing 

for low-income seniors. 

It also offers rent subsidies 

to ensure affordability.

​

2. Public-Private Partnerships

​

Collaborating 

with local government 

and private developers 

to secure funding 

and subsidies 

to lower costs. 

​

San Francisco’s

local government

could be

supporting a project 

that addresses

the urgent need 

for senior housing, 

the fastest growing group 

being made homeless .

​​

3. Efficient Design and Space Utilization

 

Shared Spaces:

 

By

maximizing 

communal spaces 

and keeping

individual units 

compact but comfortable, 

reduces construction 

and maintenance costs. 

 

Modular partitioning:

 

Using modular 

prefabricated partitioning 

helps reduce costs 

and conversion time.

 

4. Non-Profit Cooperative Models

 

Non-Profit Management:

Partnering with organizations 

managing affordable housing 

for seniors ensures that rents 

remain low.

 

Housing Cooperatives:

 

Seniors can have the option 

to buy into a co-op, 

which will lower monthly costs 

and give aspects of ownership.

​​

5. Local Advocacy and Support

​

Community Support:

​

Building strong 

local support for the project, 

including from advocacy groups, 

will help counter any opposition 

to ensure that the project 

goes forward smoothly.

​

City and County Support:

​

The City of San Francisco 

ought to be willing

to offer 

support, 

whether through 

grants, 

tax incentives, 

and streamlined 

approval processes, 

if the project should align 

with city housing goals.

​

6. Sustainability 

and Long-Term Affordability

​

Energy Efficiency:

​

Investing in energy-efficient designs 

and systems reduce operating costs, 

helping to keep rents lower long-term .

​

Long-Term Affordability Covenants:

​

Ensuring

that the

units 

remain affordable

for decades, 

potentially by placing them

under a

long-term affordability

covenant 

or trust,

could prevent

rent increases.

​

While such a project 

may face challenges, 

particularly in terms 

of securing funding 

and San Francisco's 

complex regulatory 

environment, 

the impact 

on the senior population 

would be profound. 

​

Reducing 

senior homelessness 

and providing stable, 

affordable housing

can 

garner significant community 

and governmental support, 

addressing this very critical 

and crucially growing need.

​

Creating

a mix 

of cooperative (co-op) units 

and rental units 

within the same building 

can be a highly effective strategy.

 

This approach caters 

to different financial situations 

and resources among seniors, 

ensuring an inclusive housing model. 

​