Budget Victories for 2021

From Jennifer Friedenbach with Coalition on Homelessness:

Our budget campaign “Our City, Our Budget” to house San Franciscans, keep San Franciscans housed, and protect the civil and human rights of those forced to remain on the streets, has come to fruition. Due to hard work and organizing, many historic victories were achieved for unhoused San Franciscans. For one, the second installment of funding for Our City Our Home, Prop C which passed in November 2018 [campaigned for by the SF Tenants Union] is about to hit the streets and it will result in dramatic numbers of people having the opportunity to exit homelessness. In addition, the Coalition’s Housing Justice workgroup alongside the Homeless Emergency Service Provider Association (HESPA) campaigned for additional resources to augment Prop C and further fill unmet needs. Prop C generates over $300 million a year for housing, shelter, mental health services, and homeless prevention. In this budget cycle, HESPA [Homeless Emergency Service Providers Association] garnered $53 million for unhoused people over two years. In sum, we are talking about radically improving human and civil rights on the streets, over 4,000 housing opportunities for homeless people, 1,000 shelter beds, prevention for thousands of households and behavioral health services for thousands of unhoused people as well. Huge thanks to all the Coalition staff, such as Ian James, Miguel Carrera, Tyler Kyser, Tracey Mixon, Yessica Hernandez, Carlos Wadkins. And way way too many community members to thank but to name a few, Vinny Eng, Sara Shortt, Adriana Camerena, Wes Saver, Joe Wilson, Marykate Bacalou, Shannell Williams, Julie Leadbetter, Larry Ackerman, Mike Steil, Sonya Batres, Maricela Anaya, Oneida, Tumani Drew, Julia D’Antonio, Brett Andrews, Anakh Sul Rama, Stella K, Ken Reggio, Tina Collins, Elgin Rose, Andrea Mayfield, Mary Howe, Marnie Regan, Matthias Mormino, Roma Guy, and so many more who worked hard on organizing protests, writing reports, doing research, meeting with legislators, and having the fortitude to stay on this year after year. Of course, would be remiss not the thank Board of Supervisors Budget and Appropriations committee members led by Haney, and joined by Safai, Ronen, Mar and Walton for their and their staff’s hard work, as well as the hard work of the Controller’s office and the Mayor for agreeing to many of these changes to the budget.

Human and Civil Rights

CART [endorsed by the SF Tenants Union] – Compassionate Alternative Response Team was funded at $3 million to respond to 65,000 calls relating to homelessness that police are currently answering and to instead have an effective, safe, solutions-based response to homelessness.

3 Additional water stations in Tenderloin

Reductions to Police Budget

Very modest reductions occurred to the police department including 1 police academy, 15 vacant positions were eliminated and $3 million in police overtime was reduced from the budget.

Bathrooms

The Mayor cut the three 24 hour bathrooms that existed prior to the pandemic out of the budget, and these were replaced and 7 were added, plus another 10 part-time bathrooms. (Big shout out to tenderloins people’s Congress and chair Haney for making this happen)

Housing

Acquisitions

At least 825 units will be purchased with funding for operating costs for adults, families and youth

Permanent Private Housing Market Subsidies (flex pool)

650 adults, families, and youth will have rental assistance to afford their own place, including units for 50 families leaving SRO’s.

Time-limited housing subsidies

265 adults and youth will have an opportunity to move into housing, with rental assistance for a period of time with the expectation they will be able to take over the rent on their own after a couple years.

Subsidies

172 subsidies for people with disabilities, seniors, and families.

Bridge housing for 25 youth who have acute behavioral health challenges.

Shelter

Over 1,000 new shelter beds were funded, including funding for RV parks with 100 spots, a new 50-bed navigation center for justice-involved people, hotel rooms for youth, pregnant people, families and domestic violence victims. This included funding to permanently operate the 120 trailers at the port, and to fund 190 tent sites through 2023.Some of the emergency needs asks were funded with OCOH as noted above; 100 nightly hotel vouchers for homeless youth, 26 nightly hotel vouchers for families, and (FINALLY!) a dignified drop-in shelter for 40 families.

Mental Health

A number of mental health initiatives were funded in the budget, many of which were fought for by homeless community members and their allies. A large portion of the mental health investments were part of Mental Health SF, legislation passed in 2019, and funded by Our City Our Home, Prop C.

343 additional beds in a variety of intervention styles, from managed alcohol to traditional abstinence-based programs, step-down residential beds, board and care, TAY residential and co-op beds. In addition, an unnamed number of beds will be acquired.

Street crisis capacity was dramatically expanded with the funding of seven Street Crisis Response Teams, follow-up overdose teams, telehealth, and street crisis expansions. Behavioral health in shelters and drop-ins was also funded.

Care coordination for 1,500 clients and 865 intensive case management slots were funded.

Funding was allocated for a mental health service center that would serve as a centralized intake had its hours expanded.

Overdose prevention was funded to have clinicians follow up with care for those who survived an overdose to prevent future overdoses and improve health

Behavioral health services for 2,600 supportive housing tenants were funded as well.

Targeted services for Tay and the transgender population were funded as well.

Harm reduction therapy center was also funded to have the ongoing care for individuals challenged by substance use.

Behavioral Health for 75 children, 500 youth, and 800 adults in shelters and drop-ins was funded.

Prevention

Eviction prevention legal services and back rent for 5,000 households

Eviction prevention specifically for 2000 folks living in supportive housing.

Prevention including shallow housing subsidies to keep folks in their homes for 416 veterans and 1000 justice-involved individuals

Problem-solving for 1000 youth, 1000 families, and 2000 adults which includes money for very short subsidies or other random services to help someone get back in housing if at all possible.

Cameo house which was about to close and serves justice-involved families is going to stay open with general fund dollars.

Legal services for unhoused individuals to connect them with and protect public benefits.

Direct cash aid for homeless youth was funded with OCOH funds

Workforce Development

Workforce Earn and Learn to help folks make money and better be able to pay their rents and stay in housing for 2000 adults, 2000 families, and 1000 youth.

Workforce asks for homeless adults, families, and youth were not funded.