The Bay Area is notoriously expensive and experts weighed in on a report that confirms four of the cities in the county are in the top 10 most expensive places to rent with South San Francisco taking the top spot.

The average one-bedroom rental unit in South City skyrocketed to $2,880, nearly 40% more than it was in 2021, which marked the city as the fourth most expensive place to rent in January’s Zumper report. However, Burlingame, Redwood City and San Mateo were ranked 5, 6 and 9 respectively.

Zumper spokesperson Crystal Chen said San Francisco rents are the most expensive in the Bay Area and it makes sense for many residents who work in it to get more space for less by moving to a nearby city.

“The demand is higher in those less expensive suburban areas because many renters priced out of San Francisco may have turned to South San Francisco for housing since it’s very close to the city but still more affordable,” said Chen.

Coldwell Banker real estate agent Rachel Ni believes the demand to live in the biotech hub, which originates in South City, may only be exacerbated by the growing number of jobs it has produced over recent years.

“In all areas, a lot of companies are doing layoffs but the ones doing the hiring are pharmaceutical and mostly all the big pharma is in South City,” Ni said.

Redwood City is in the middle of the Peninsula. There is a greater demand to live there, especially in Redwood Shores, she added.

“It’s close to Silicon Valley and not too far from San Francisco, the mid-Peninsula is desirable when you factor in its top-tier schools,” Ni said.

Additionally, South City is centrally located to San Francisco International Airport and has fewer issues with crime, cleanliness and homelessness than San Francisco, which could make it more desirable for residents looking to leave, she added.

South San Francisco Councilmember James Coleman reacted to the Zumper report saying it is a really shocking statistic because South City is a really reasonable place to live.

If he could guess, the biggest reason is there are a lot of jobs coming into the city and demand is high.

The city has been proactive toward building more housing with Measure AA passing during the November election, which authorizes the city to acquire, develop or construct low-rent housing, up to 1% of the total number of existing units, annually for eight years. The city will be able to use its $120 million in special housing funds from commercial linkage fees to build 1% of the total number of existing housing units in the city.

Additionally, the city’s 2040 General Plan aggressively addresses the need for more housing to be included just east of Highway 101, with the industrial neighborhood of Lindenville and El Camino Real also seen as places for new homes. The plan helps alleviate the city’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation, a state law dictating how much housing Bay Area cities will need to build in eight-year increments; the city will need to permit 3,956 units of affordable housing between 2023 and 2031. The units are required to be divided among three categories, with rents offered at or below $1,713, $2,741 and $3,426 for a one-bedroom unit.

That equates to approximately 250 units per year, totaling around 2,000 units in the next eight years. The measure would override Article 34, a 70-year-old state law that states additional affordable housing units can only be built with public funds if passed through a voter initiative.

“The City Council is dedicated to keeping our renters in their homes and protecting against displacement. As well as protecting and preserving affordable housing,” Coleman said. “We need to find that balance of folks who want to live near their job but also protect the families who have been here for years against displacement.”

The post Rents in South San Francisco start to development upward | Native Information appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

HAUPPAUGE, NY–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Upward Health announced today its selection by San Francisco Health Plan (SFHP) to deliver Enhanced Care Management (ECM) services to a high-complexity cohort of SFHP’s membership. SFHP provides health insurance to over 160,000 residents of San Francisco through California’s Medicaid program, Medi-Cal. ECM is a comprehensive, community-based care management service focused on both clinical and non-clinical needs. The program is part of the CalAIM (California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal) multi-year plan to integrate social services and improve outcomes for Medi-Cal beneficiaries.

Upward Health recognized the partnership opportunity with SFHP as a natural fit. Upward Health has been delivering its in-home, whole-person model of care to high-risk and high-need patients across the country, including within California, for years. ECM similarly serves individuals with complex needs, categorized as unique Populations of Focus defined by the State of California’s Department of Health Care Services. The Populations of Focus include those suffering from homelessness, those managing serious mental illness or substance use disorders, those transitioning from incarceration, and several other vulnerable groups.

“We are excited about the chance to impact the patients that we care about most – patients who have fragmented care and who need help to access the support available in the community,” said Glen Moller, CEO of Upward Health. “We look forward to working with the outstanding team at SFHP to engage in this good work.” San Francisco County is the most recent addition to the counties in the state where Upward Health is providing ECM services.

Patients referred to ECM with Upward Health will work with a dedicated Care Specialist who will serve as the care manager providing support and coordination. ECM is a high-touch, person-centered program focused on coordinating physical, behavioral, and social services. Patients participating in ECM receive help with a range of services, including finding doctors, scheduling appointments, understanding and tracking medications, and finding and applying for community services such as housing supports.

“Upward Health’s commitment to underserved communities and to addressing the social determinants of health made them an easy choice,” said Yolanda Richardson, CEO of SFHP. “We look forward to this partnership and improving the health of our members with the greatest needs.”

ABOUT UPWARD HEALTH

Upward Health is an in-home multidisciplinary provider that partners with health plans and other risk-bearing entities to address the unique needs of the most high-risk, high-need users of the health care system today. Using a unique, in-home community-based approach to meeting a patient’s needs, Upward Health facilitates and delivers care that improves outcomes and the quality of life for every patient it serves. Upward Health has a measured Net Promoter Score of 86, among the highest in the healthcare industry. To learn more, please visit www.upwardhealth.com.

ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO HEALTH PLAN

About San Francisco Health Plan San Francisco Health Plan (SFHP) has a rating of 4 out of 5 in NCQA’s Medicaid Health Plan Ratings 2021. SFHP is a licensed community health plan providing affordable health coverage to over 160,000 low- and moderate-income families residing in San Francisco. SFHP is designed for and by the residents it serves—many of whom would not be able to otherwise obtain health care for themselves or their families. Through SFHP, members have access to a full spectrum of medical services including preventive care, hospitalization, prescription drugs, family planning, and substance abuse programs. SFHP’s mission is to improve health outcomes of the diverse San Francisco communities through successful partnerships. San Francisco Health Plan is also the third-party administrator for the nationally recognized Healthy San Francisco program. For more information on SFHP, visit www.sfhp.org.

The post Upward Well being Chosen by San Francisco Well being Plan for Enhanced Care Administration Initiative appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.