Putting more money in San Franciscans’ pockets—and removing financial barriers that hold families back.

In 2025, the Financial Justice Project and the Office of Financial Empowerment came together to make San Francisco’s financial systems work better for the people who rely on them most. Across our work, the goal was simple: put more money back in residents’ pockets, reduce financial stress, and remove barriers that keep families from getting ahead.

Working alongside community partners and City departments, we challenged unfair financial practices, redesigned policies rooted in lived experience, and invested in solutions that delivered real, measurable relief for San Franciscans.

As we look to 2026, the national landscape continues to shift, bringing new urgency to this work. Our commitment remains steadfast: to build fairer financial systems, protect vulnerable communities, and advance durable, community-centered solutions that promote long-term economic security.

1. Put $14 million back into San Franciscans’ pockets by reducing fines and fees. 

By negotiating fine and fee discounts with City departments, we helped nearly 285,000 low-income San Franciscans save more than $14 million—money that stayed in people’s pockets for rent, groceries, transportation, and other essentials instead of punitive government debt.

2. Helped San Franciscans build savings, reduce debt, and raise their credit score.

Through SF Financial Counseling, counselors served 1,078 clients across 3,147 sessions, helping residents increase savings by more than $1.6 million, reduce debt by nearly $2.2 million, and raise credit scores by an average of 34 points for those who improved their credit. In partnership with the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, we also launched free one-on-one legacy planning services to help residents protect and preserve assets. 

3. Made jury service possible for thousands of low-income San Franciscans.

Be The Jury helps low-income residents serve on juries by increasing juror pay from $15 to $100 per day. To date, the program has supported nearly 5,000 San Franciscans, ensuring juries better reflect the City’s racial and economic diversity while allowing cases to proceed more fairly and efficiently. The program was featured on KQED Forum and in the documentary Judging Juries.

4. Helped people living in vehicles build savings and move toward stable housing.

In partnership with the Mayor’s Office and the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, we launched a voluntary Large Vehicle Buyback program that pays people living in large vehicles to safely give them up—helping residents build a small nest egg, connect to financial counseling, and take steps toward stable housing.

5. Proved that saving early helps families afford college and stress less about the future.

New research from SummitLab found that Kindergarten to College (K2C) fosters college aspirations, makes saving for education more accessible, and reduces the financial stress families face when planning for college—based on interviews with parents and students from the high school graduating class of 2023.

6. Helped San Franciscans stay financially stable during emergencies and crises

We published a multilingual Financial Emergency Preparedness Planning Toolkit to help residents prepare for unexpected disruptions, including immigration-related emergencies. In partnership with San Francisco International Airport, we also supported approximately 1,700 federal workers during the longest federal shutdown in U.S. history with free financial counseling, letters to landlords and bill collectors, and guidance on safe financial products.

7. Connected small businesses with affordable capital when they needed it most.

SF Lends—an initiative of the Treasurer & Tax Collector’s Office and the City Administrator’s Office—reached a major milestone as the first 10 small businesses accessed more than $2.2 million in affordable loans and lines of credit to support day-to-day cash flow and growth.

8. Removed barriers to safe banking for young people.

In partnership with MyPath, we published a new report and hosted a webinar debunking common myths about noncustodial bank accounts for youth—highlighting practical, proven models that help young people build financial capability early.

9. Brought state leaders together to make early wealth-building easier for families.

Partnering with the California State Treasurer’s Office, we convened leaders from across the state at the inaugural California Early Wealth Account Summit, advancing coordination across programs like K2C, CalKIDS, and HOPE accounts to make it easier for families to access and use these resources for their children’s futures.

10. Centered community voices in shaping socially responsible banking. 

We released a report on socially responsible banking in San Francisco, grounded in community listening sessions, that outlines opportunities to strengthen financial inclusion and better align banking practices with community values.

San Francisco Financial Justice Project & Office of Financial Empowerment
City Hall Room 140, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102

Homepage | Office of Financial Empowerment (sfgov.org)