HRCSF's Counseling Hours:
HRCSF
Office (phone and drop-in counseling) 942
Market St., #303 (415) 398-6200 M. - Th. 1:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Additional phone counseling hours: Tues. evenings 6:00
- 8:00 p.m.
Haight Remote
Site (drop-in counseling only) People's Cafe 1419 Haight
at Masonic Mondays 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Richmond
Remote Site (drop-in counseling only) Royal Ground
Cafe 5301 Geary at 17th Ave. Saturdays 10 - noon
Mission
Remote Site (drop-in counseling only) Cafe La Boheme
3318 24th St@ Mission St Thursdays 6:00 - 8:00
p.m.
HRCSF
is a membership-driven organization. To join HRCSF, call the
membership hotline at (415) 398-5800.
| |
|
About
Housing Rights Committee
HRCSF is a
tenants' rights organization with a 20-year history of educating,
advocating, and agitating for tenants' rights in San
Francisco.
We provide the
following services to tenants city-wide:
- Free tenants' rights counseling;
- Tenant
organizing assistance;
- Legislative
advocacy and agitation on tenants' rights issues.
|
Action
Alerts!
STOP UNFAIR RENT INCREASES: JOIN THE FIGHT TO END CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS PASSTHROUGHS (CIP's)
For more
information email Sara Shortt at shortt_hrc@hotmail.com, or
call the Housing Rights Committee of SF at 398-5800.
ABOUT THE
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PASSTHROUGH (CIP) BALLOT MEASURE
HOW IT WORKS NOW:
- Under San Francisco's Rent Control laws, landlords can raise
the rents of tenants in order to pass on the costs of major
repairs. These types of rent increases are called "Capital
improvements pass-throughs" (CIP's). Landlords can pass on 100% of
the cost of these repairs to the tenants.
- Improvements which currently can be considered "Capital
Improvements" include: painting, carpeting, roof repair, new
ceilings and walls, sheetrocking, upgraded appliances, heating
systems, fixtures, etc.
- These improvements add to the value of the property thus
allowing landlords to profit. Yet, the entire cost can be passed
on to tenants by raising their rent.
- Landlords, while not paying for the cost of the repairs, are
able to receive tax breaks based on the expenses of the work.
- The number of rent increases due to CIP's have more than
doubled between 1998 and 1999 (From 1,484 units to 3,350). These
rent increases mean displacement for long-term San Franciscans.
WHAT THE LEGISLATION WILL DO:
- This measure would amend the City's Rent Control Ordinance to
end rent increases based on "Capital Improvements".
- There are two expections:
- Seismic retrofiting (earthquake safety improvements).
- Cases where the landlord would be deprived of a "fair return
on the property". (This would be calculated by the Rent Board).
Landlords who can prove they are not receiving a fair return
would be allowed to pass-through costs.
- The measure also requires stricter regulation of rent
increases which pass on the costs of bonds to tenants. It would
require that any bond pass-through rent increases be disclosed and
approved by voters.
- The measure is retroactive. Tenants facing CIP's before the
November election will still be covered by this measure as long as
their case was still pending on April 10th, 2000.
HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED:
- Office Help: We need help with data entry, phone
calling, mailings, etc.
- Outreach: Help us get the word out to tenants in large
buildings and the general public. Help with door-knocking,
leafletting, speaking to tenants associations and neighborhood
groups.
- Steering Committee: Be the brains behind the campaign.
Meets every other Wednesday at 6:00 PM at the Housing Rights
Committee, 942 Market St., Suite 303.
- Give a Donation: A winning campaign takes lots of cash.
Please help us by giving to the campaign to end unfair rent
increases.
For more information email Sara Shortt at shortt_hrc@hotmail.com, or
call the Housing Rights Committee of SF at 398-5800.
| |