People's Self-Help Housing - San Luis Obispo, California

Draco M.

I applied to their newest apartment complex on August 1st of 2022, and they have yet to approve, rejected, or give me updates about the status of my application. When I reach out for an update, they just say "they're doing additional verification".

They also take a sizable deposit when you interview for an apartment (anywhere from $400 - $1000 depending on your unit size). They cash this deposit well before you've actually been approved for a unit, and it's not refundable if you withdraw your application. It's been over a year since I first applied so keeping not refundable deposits from people for so long is kind of terrible.

They need to find a way to streamline this process, or at least allow the deposits to be refundable in case applicants have to seek different living arrangements (like current lease ending) especially when the process takes over a year

Niners F.

My family and I recently submitted an application for housing located on Broad Street. Upon initial interaction, I sensed a predisposition towards rejection even before the scheduled interview. It appeared that the individual, who interviewed us dismissed our application for an exceedingly minor, almost inconsequential, reason. My family and I dedicated over two hours to complete the requisite paperwork, only to receive a rejection via email the following day at 6 a.m by Olivia. It felt as though we were never afforded a genuine opportunity from the outset, and the application process involved an extensive barrage of inquiries that left us feeling scrutinized. We entered the interview with a sense of apprehension, fearing rejection was imminent, despite our strong qualifications, impeccable credit scores, and a commendable rental history. Regrettably, our efforts to secure acceptance proved futile. It is disheartening that individuals who adhere to the rules are not granted an opportunity. This is not the first instance in which we have experienced disappointment at the hands of this company.

ERIKA G.

People's Self Help Housing is as corrupt as they come. They just raised my family member's rent by $600 a month! Plus they retroactivated it back to August 2023 (this is currently March 2024)! Isn't this place supposed to be "low income" housing? How on earth do they expect a low income family to be able to pay that size of increase AND how can they possibly believe that a low income family has enough money laying around to pay a 6 month retroactive $600 rent increase?! They also did the same thing last year. This is just crazy!
PSHH are terrible with repairs & they charge for any little thing, including keys. The electrical wiring is unsafe & there are constant water leaks & mold. Kitchen drawers fall apart & screen doors come off. The construction "remodeling" is cheaply done & simply covers old problems. The laundry machines are not kept up, damage clothing, & are constantly breaking down & keeping money without refunding. They are always looking for ways to accuse tenants of breaking rules. They even go so far as to say that tenants with cats must clean the litter box at least 3 times a day! Their tenants "rules" are pages & pages long.
These people are total slum lords!
PSHH also makes it completely impossible for their tenants to become self sufficient & ultimately afford to move out of their housing. The executives are overpaid while their tenants can't even afford to pay for food, medication, gas, utilities, etc. without financial assistance from relatives. How can they possibly justify such a huge rent increase AND a 6 month retroactive increase? I find it very difficult to believe that this is even legal? But if a tenant complains about anything, or dares to report them, or to seek legal advice, PSHH will threaten to have them evicted. In fact, my family members have already received a 3 day notice for eviction unless the retroactive 6 month $600 rent increase is paid! Seriously?! Anyone who has $3600 laying around wouldn't even be qualified for "low income" housing in the first place. Because PSHH is considered a "nonprofit", they're not necessarily required to abide by standard rental laws. The tenants, in essence, have no rights & nowhere to turn for help.
Avoid living in anyplace owned by People's Self Help Housing, at all costs! I guarantee that you will end up regretting it. Notice that none of the 5 star reviews give any reason why living there is a positive experience.
It's also evident that the companies who support PSHH with huge donations, are not reading these reviews, or making any effort to find out how tenants really feel about their housing situation under PSHH. If they did, they'd send their donation elsewhere.
Sadly, without a miraculous sort of intervention, I don't hold out any hope for change or improvement.

Steve L.

The People’s Self Help Housing in San Luis Obispo is very corrupt. They never return calls, have unprofessional staff, and ignore issues you bring to their attention. Everyone who experience the same should contact the agencies who fund them so they can be held accountable and stop providing inhumane service to people in need. I sincerely hope other People’s Self Help Housing aren’t as bad as the one in San Luis Obispo.

Marion W.

Recent experiences have made me. wonder what they really are trying to accomplish
Because it most certainly IS NOT to help the down trodden to do Anything but go away !! Actively hostile and publicly abusive to homeless people. Appalling behavior. And I will stand by every word I wrote. Marion Louise Warner

Kevin D.

It's funny how they claim their nonprofit organization but they have this 10 million-dollar building if you're senior and you need a home like they claim to help you they don't you walk in there and they say there's no funding they can't help anybody it's amazing though they came up with 10 million dollars for that building

Kevin D.

I walked into this brand new $10 million-dollar building in San Luis with lots of employees I asked him what do you do they said he helped the seniors and people that are homeless I said well I'm both can you help me I said no we don't have any funding so what are all these people to get a is what I wonder if they're not helping

R

Not very helpful. I sent them an email and their response was a strangely formatted email, with a flier of their properties attached. My question wasn't answered. I replied re-stating my question and I never heard back. A month or two later I sent them another message and never heard back either.