The Changing Face of Daly City

For decades, Daly City has been known as the “Pinoy Capital of the Bay Area,” home to one of the largest concentrations of Filipino families in the United States. Filipino immigrants have long flocked to this community, building businesses, raising families, and contributing to the city’s vibrant cultural fabric. However, as the cost of living skyrockets and rent prices soar, many of these families are finding it increasingly difficult to stay in the city they once called home.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the rent crisis affecting Daly City, the factors driving these rising costs, and how the Filipino community is being impacted. Through a deep dive into the socioeconomic conditions, historical context, and community responses, we’ll try to answer one critical question: Why are Filipinos leaving Daly City?

The Historical Connection: Why Filipinos Chose Daly City

Daly City’s reputation as a Filipino hub dates back to the 1970s. The 1968 Fair Housing Act was a pivotal moment in U.S. housing policy, prohibiting discrimination in housing based on race, religion, and national origin, among other factors. This legislation made it easier for minority groups, including Filipinos, to purchase homes in areas that were previously restricted due to racial covenants. Before the Act, areas like Westlake in Daly City had racial covenants that restricted home sales to minorities.

Filipino Cultural Presence in Daly City

By the 1990s, about one-third of Daly City’s population was Filipino. This strong presence allowed the community to shape the city’s cultural and political landscape, including the election of Daly City’s first Filipino mayor. The close-knit community turned Daly City into a beacon of hope for Filipinos looking for a new start in America, where they could preserve their cultural roots while building a future.

But the same city that once promised affordability and opportunity is now pushing out the very community that helped shape it. Rising rent costs are threatening the Filipino families who have lived here for generations.

Rising Rent Costs: A Growing Crisis for Filipino Families

The Bay Area’s housing crisis has reached a boiling point, and Daly City has not been immune. The city's strategic location, proximity to San Francisco, and limited housing supply have driven rent prices higher, making it one of the more expensive places to live in California.

A Shocking 56% of Daly City Residents Are Rent-Burdened

According to the House Readiness Report, 56% of Daly City’s residents are considered “rent-burdened,” meaning they spend 30% or more of their income on rent. The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment now sits at around $3,100, a steep price for families who often share multigenerational households. This leaves little room for basic necessities like healthcare and food.

The Impact of the Costa-Hawkins Act on Daly City

One major factor contributing to Daly City’s rising rent costs is California’s Costa-Hawkins Act, passed in 1995. This law limits the ability of cities to impose rent control on single-family homes and properties built after 1995. This means landlords in Daly City can raise rent to market rates for new tenants without any restrictions, exacerbating the affordability crisis.

Landlords, eager to capitalize on the demand for housing, often raise rent by hundreds of dollars as soon as a unit becomes vacant. Long-time Filipino residents, unable to keep up with these rapid increases, are left with no choice but to relocate, often to more affordable—but less familiar—cities.

The Human Cost: Filipino Families Being Pushed Out

As rents continue to rise, many Filipino families are being forced to leave Daly City. The displacement is not just an economic issue; it’s also a cultural one. The Filipino community, deeply rooted in Daly City for decades, is seeing the fabric of its support systems unravel. Family homes passed down through generations are being sold off, and local Filipino businesses are struggling to survive amid rising rents.

The Emotional Toll on Filipino Families

For many Filipino immigrants, Daly City was more than just a place to live—it was a place where they could find a sense of belonging in a foreign land. The churches, grocery stores, and community centers became places where they could speak Tagalog, celebrate Filipino holidays, and teach their children about their cultural heritage. Losing these spaces due to displacement is emotionally devastating.

The Filipino value of kapwa—the deep sense of shared identity and connectedness—makes the displacement all the more painful. Families rely on neighbors, extended relatives, and "found family" networks for emotional and financial support. Being pushed out of these communities disrupts this vital support system.

As Filipino families are displaced, a new demographic moves in—one that can afford the rising costs but often lacks the cultural connection to the city’s history. This demographic shift threatens the Filipino identity of Daly City, leaving many to wonder if the city will ever be the same.

Can Filipino Families Stay in Daly City?

The question remains: Is there hope for Filipino families to remain in Daly City? The answer is complex and will depend on various factors, including local housing policies, tenant protections, and community activism.

Organizations like SOMCAN (South of Market Community Action Network) are fighting to protect the rights of Filipino tenants and working to prevent further displacement. SOMCAN is advocating for stronger tenant protections, more affordable housing options, and an end to the unchecked rent hikes enabled by the Costa-Hawkins Act. These efforts are critical, but the future of Daly City’s Filipino community is far from certain.

Without significant changes to housing policies or rent control measures, Daly City may lose the very community that once defined it. For the Filipino families who remain, the fight to stay in Daly City is not just about preserving a roof over their heads—it’s about keeping their cultural legacy alive.

What You Can Do to Help

If you’ve been affected by the housing crisis or want to support Filipino families facing displacement in Daly City, consider the following:

• Support organizations like SOMCAN that are advocating for tenant rights and affordable housing.

• Stay informed about local housing policies, including potential changes to the Costa-Hawkins Act.

• Get involved in community efforts to preserve Daly City’s cultural heritage.

The Filipino community in Daly City has been a cornerstone of the city’s identity for decades. With rising rent costs and displacement threatening this legacy, now is the time to take action.

For more on SOMCAN and the housing crisis in California, follow SOMCAN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/somcan.sf/?hl=en

Sources:

• City of Daly City: https://www.dalycity.org/760/History-of-Daly-City

• Found SF: https://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=DALY_CITY:_THE_NEW_FILIPINOTOWN

• KQED Arts | How Daly City's Filipino Mobile DJ Scene Changed Hip Hop Forever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbnDXp4lYuk

• House Readiness Report: https://www.housingreadinessreport.org/daly-city/get-involved

• Voter Guide: https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/33/