Send us Fan Mail

When most people in San Francisco hear “affordable housing,” they assume it’s for someone else.

People in poverty. Seniors on decades-long waitlists. Not them.

But the reality is more complicated.

In San Francisco, the affordable housing system reaches much further up the income ladder than most people realize. A single person earning up to about $108,000 can qualify for federal programs. A family of four making over $200,000 can qualify to buy a city-supported home.

And we’re still calling that “affordable housing.”

This episode breaks down how that system actually works.

I sat down with Manson Leong, Senior Housing Community Organizer at Self-Help for the Elderly, to walk through:

• how federal vs. city housing programs work
• why so many people apply to the wrong system
• what’s actually available right now
• and what it looks like on the ground for the people trying to navigate it

We also get into the part that rarely gets talked about:

• the lottery odds (142 units → 10,000 applicants)
• the “hidden door” — affordable units listed on Zillow with no label
• and the reality of a 28-year waitlist

And one story Manson shared that stays with you:
an 85-year-old woman who spent decades working in San Francisco—and still can’t find a place to age in peace.

If this episode resonates—for you, your parents, or someone you care about—there’s a place to start.

What You’ll Learn

• Why “affordable housing” ≠ “low-income housing”
• The two systems: HUD (federal) vs. MOHCD (city)
• How to use DAHLIA (the city’s housing portal)
• What income levels actually qualify in SF
• Where to find units that don’t show up in the usual places
• Why seniors face an even more fragmented system

Timestamps

00:03 — Why this episode is different
02:30 — Meet Manson Leong & Self-Help for the Elderly
03:56 — Affordable housing vs. low-income housing
04:08 — The two systems (HUD vs. MOHCD)
05:46 — How DAHLIA works
06:30 — What’s available right now
07:41 — The “hidden door”
09:38 — The 28-year waitlist
12:53 — Why this work is personal
13:48 — The 85-year-old story
15:11 — Why seniors can’t just leave SF
16:58 — Housing Resource Fair

Resources

Westside Housing Resource Fair
Saturday, April 18, 2026 · 10 AM – 2 PM
San Francisco County Fair Building (1199 9th Avenue)
Free, walk-ins welcome

Self-Help for the Elderly
selfhelpelderly.org

Manson Leong Contact:
Email: mansonl@selfhelpelderly.org
Phone: 415-677-7688

DAHLIA Housing Portal
housing.sfgov.org

MOHCD
sfmohcd.org

MEDA
medasf.org

HUD Income Limits (SF)
huduser.gov

About the Host

Jessica J. Ho is a San Francisco realtor with Sequoia Real Estate and host of The Sunset Connection. She focuses on housing, neighborhood community, and the people who make San Francisco what it is.

Email: jessica.

Stay Connected

📌 Listen on Buzzsprout
📷 Follow on Instagram
📘 Like us on Facebook
▶️ Watch on YouTube
✉️ Email: jessica.jasmine.ho@gmail.com

Subscribe, share, and leave a review — it helps more neighbors find the show!

The Sunset Connection — exploring the stories and histories that connect us.

Send a text

Disclosure: My husband, Christian Kropff, is Supervisor Alan Wong's campaign manager. Every candidate in this series was made aware of this connection before recording. The questions in this episode are the same ones asked of every candidate throughout the series.

This is the final episode of The Sunset Connection's District 4 Candidate Series.

Over the past several weeks, I've spoken with every candidate running for District 4 Supervisor - asking the same questions, in the same format, each time. The goal has always been the same: to give Sunset residents the chance to hear directly from the people asking for their vote, in their own words, before the race gets condensed into slogans and sound bites.

In this final conversation, I'm joined by Alan Wong, the current appointed Supervisor for District 4. Alan is a lifelong Sunset resident who has served the community as a union organizer, District 4 legislative aide, National Guard officer, City College Trustee, and director of a children's nonprofit. He was appointed by Mayor Daniel Lurie to serve as District 4 Supervisor.

We discuss his personal connection to the district, what motivated him to run, how his experiences have shaped his approach to leadership, and what success would look like in his first year - along with the same scenario question asked of every candidate in the series.

Thank you to every candidate who participated in this series, and to every listener who took the time to hear them out. Local elections are decided by small margins, and informed voters make stronger communities.

Previous episodes in this series:
1. Albert Chow
2. Natalie Gee
3. David Lee
4. Jeremy Julian Greco
5. Alan Wong (this episode)

About this series:
This is a non-endorsement candidate interview series. All participating candidates were asked the same questions in the same format to give District 4 residents direct access to how candidates think, not to persuade or advocate for any outcome. Any personal political views or activities of the host are separate from the podcast and do not affect participation or coverage.

Stay Connected

📌 Listen on Buzzsprout
📷 Follow on Instagram
📘 Like us on Facebook
▶️ Watch on YouTube
✉️ Email: jessica.jasmine.ho@gmail.com

Subscribe, share, and leave a review — it helps more neighbors find the show!

The Sunset Connection — exploring the stories and histories that connect us.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I talk with Emma Hare, legislative aide to Supervisor Myrna Melgar, about the Inner Sunset and transportation policy in San Francisco. If you've ever wondered what a legislative aide actually does, what makes the Inner Sunset unique, and the so-called “war on cars," this episode is for you.

We also talk about including two transit funding measures expected on the November 2026 ballot that could shape public transit funding.

Whether you take transit, drive, bike, or walk, these upcoming measures will influence how the Bay Area moves and how we pay for it.

For more information on the ballot measures discussed:

San Francisco Muni parcel tax proposal:
https://www.spur.org/news/2026-01-29/proposed-parcel-tax-would-help-sustain-muni-service-and-rider-approval

Regional transportation measure:
https://transformca.org/regional-transportation-measure-2/

Have questions or ideas for future episodes?
Email me at jessica.jasmine.ho@gmail.com

Stay Connected

📌 Listen on Buzzsprout
📷 Follow on Instagram
📘 Like us on Facebook
▶️ Watch on YouTube
✉️ Email: jessica.jasmine.ho@gmail.com

Subscribe, share, and leave a review — it helps more neighbors find the show!

The Sunset Connection — exploring the stories and histories that connect us.