San Francisco to Grant Low-Cost Housing Preference to Artists

The San Francisco Arts Commission is taking steps to ease the process of applying for affordable rental housing—for artists, at least. TK reports:

The Arts Commission is working on a provocative plan that would designate some affordable housing units specially for artists. "Units specifically earmarked for people who qualify as working artists or cultural workers," says Tom DeCaigny, the city's director of cultural affairs. "So it would increase their chances within the lottery."

The program is reacting to the difficulty for artists in applying for the city's affordable housing lottery. The new program would grant artists special status in applying for affordable housing, like veterans or people with disabilities. In 2016, the city of San Francisco granted a low cost housing preference to teachers, and has begun developing rental units especially for teachers.