Tenderloin Fire Victims Struggle to Find Housing After Displacement

Many displaced residents face homelessness despite landlord and city promises of assistance

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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After a fire at 50 Golden Gate Ave. in San Francisco's Tenderloin displaced over 140 people on Dec. 12, landlord Mosser Companies promised to help rehouse residents. But nearly two months later, many have not been offered stable housing from Mosser, nor received assistance from the city. They find themselves floating on friends' couches or crammed into living rooms outside the city they called home.

Why it matters

This story highlights the ongoing housing crisis in San Francisco, where even those displaced from their homes through no fault of their own struggle to find affordable, stable housing. It raises questions about the effectiveness of the city's rental assistance programs and the accountability of large landlords like Mosser Companies to support displaced tenants.

The details

Many of the displaced residents from 50 Golden Gate Ave. do not qualify for the city's rental assistance program, which excludes those with more than $30,000 in savings, no matter how low their income. Mosser promised to help residents find comparable housing, but in most cases failed to do so. Residents have been forced to find temporary housing on their own, staying with friends and family or in small, unsuitable units.

  • The fire at 50 Golden Gate Ave. occurred on December 12, 2026.
  • Two months after the fire, many displaced residents still have not found stable housing.

The players

Mosser Companies

The landlord of the 50 Golden Gate Ave. building that was damaged by fire, and who promised to help rehouse displaced residents but has fallen short in doing so.

Melba Vilan

A displaced resident whose family of four is now staying in her auntie's living room in Daly City, struggling to find an affordable place to live.

Julie Trần

A disabled resident who lived at 50 Golden Gate Ave. for nearly 18 years and is now homeless, "couchsurfing" with friends and family in the East Bay.

Joe

A former resident of 50 Golden Gate Ave. who lives on a fixed pension, but has retirement savings that disqualify him from city rental aid.

Bilal Mahmood

The District 5 Supervisor who introduced a resolution seeking to raise the limit of savings residents can have to qualify for displacement aid.

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What they’re saying

“Nobody's helping us. Why aren't you guys coming to us?”

— Melba Vilan

“I'm like, oh, so this is what it's like to be unhoused, running around with your suitcases!”

— Julie Trần

“Within a year we're gonna be homeless. Do you guys want us to go down that road, down the path of losing everything?”

— Melba Vilan

What’s next

The Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution introduced by Supervisor Bilal Mahmood that seeks to raise the limit of savings residents can have to qualify for displacement aid from $30,000 to $130,000. The measure has been sent to the mayor's office for approval.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the ongoing housing crisis in San Francisco, where even those displaced through no fault of their own struggle to find affordable, stable housing. It raises questions about the effectiveness of the city's rental assistance programs and the accountability of large landlords to support displaced tenants.