San Francisco is facing a challenge with young people leaving the city, which some local voices attribute to housing affordability and community issues. Currently, a law dating back to the 1970s prohibits more than five unrelated individuals from living together in the city, limiting housing options such as co-living arrangements. To address this, Supervisor Bilal Mahmood is introducing the Shared Housing Reform Act, aimed at reforming these outdated regulations to facilitate the creation of co-living spaces, potentially lowering rents and fostering stronger community ties. Meanwhile, some San Francisco neighborhoods are seeking to avoid new housing developments by pursuing historic designations to gain exemptions. Critics argue that other factors, including rent control policies, have contributed to the city's housing problems. This legislative effort is part of a broader conversation about how to make urban housing more affordable and livable, with similar debates occurring in other cities like Des Moines and Dallas.