(SAN FRANCISCO, CA.) - In the rescheduled commission meeting last Friday, a new budget was proposed for the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH).
The budget proposal, presented by Chief of Finance Gigi Whitley, was approved for fiscal years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028. As opgov.ai summarizes, “while HSH managed to reduce its General Fund cut target from $10 million to $4 million through internal reallocations, the overall budget reflected substantial reductions due to the tapering of one-time state grants and prior-year Our City Our Home funds”.
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Commissioner Guerrero was an active spokesperson for an amendment of this budget proposal, emphasizing the need for frontline services, equity analysis, and a greater focus on prevention. Also, he brought up the importance of community providers and “investing in valuing the emotional experience of giving people services”. He stated how harm-reduction should utilize “the model of being client centered” as the system has to, in a sense, appeal to “customers”. The Chair vowed to add a transmittal memo to include these concerns in budgetary considerations.
Deputy Director Anthony Bush from the Equity Office Engagement Strategy outlined the city’s goals in “reducing racial inequities and other disparities” within SF’s “Home by the Bay” plan. The aims of “Home by the Bay” are to “prevent and end homelessness in San Francisco for FY’s 2023 through 2028”.
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Within these communities of focus, the goal is to decrease the numbers of those populations that experience homelessness by a margin greater than that of the city. Also, members within the communities of focus are to move from homelessness to permanent housing at a higher rate than the total population.
During public comment, it became clear that the community sees the reduction in budget as an affront to being able to provide the necessary resources such as outreach teams, shelter and housing placements, and stabilizing intervention.
One community member, Jonathon Ellis, drew attention to the stabilization factor. Ellis, a resident of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and a member of the San Francisco Supportive Housing Providers Network's Resident Advisory Board, explained how “the city’s contracted rates for urgent care and 90-day residential housing costs tens of thousands of dollars per episode”.
While these programs are successful at stabilizing people, “discharge planning” is where the city falls short. Ellis asserted how “housing ready individuals can still face administrative delays or eligibility barriers that result in discharge back to shelter or the streets” and further went on to implore that “If we are serious about fiscal responsibility, we should strengthen PSH capacity with clear placement so stabilization leads to permanent housing”. It’s about providing full support throughout the entire process.
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On a positive note, the meeting opened with the announcement of the new 24/7 Transitional Age Youth Health and Wellness Facility that will begin working in the Tenderloin. Per https://www.glide.org/tay-center, “the TAY Center is designed to meet young people where they are, offering respite, immediate and coordinated care, vital resources, and long-term support to help them move forward with confidence”.
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Want more San Francisco news? Check out these articles:
Budget Cuts Threaten SF Environment Department | Open Governance
Grievances Bubble Over | Open Governance
Submit comments and story ideas to Enya Niebergall at enya.n@lead4earth.org
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