San Francisco Human Services Agency secures $5M for CalWORKs housing support program

The San Francisco County government meeting held on March 12, 2025, focused on critical funding allocations for the Human Services Agency (HSA), particularly concerning the CalWORKs housing support program. The meeting began with the introduction of an ordinance proposing the appropriation of approximately $5 million in state and federal revenues aimed at enhancing direct client assistance, rental subsidies, and services through the CalWORKs program for the fiscal year 2024 to 2025.

Celia Pedroza, the budget director for HSA, presented the request for supplemental funding, explaining that the state Department of Social Services had identified underspending in prior year allocations. This led to a redistribution of funds to counties, including San Francisco, which were better positioned to utilize these resources. The late notification of this funding opportunity necessitated the current request for a supplemental appropriation.

The funding will be allocated to three primary areas: eviction prevention through back rent support, additional placement subsidies for families, and increased funding for the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) to support families currently in shelters. Pedroza noted that the state recently extended the spending deadline for these funds by six months, allowing HSA until December 2025 to utilize the allocated resources effectively.

During the discussion, concerns were raised regarding the underspending in rental assistance and contracted services with community-based organizations (CBOs). The underspending was attributed to effective program management that reduced the average duration families required assistance, thus lowering overall costs. However, there were apprehensions about the capacity of CBOs, such as Catholic Charities and Abode, to meet increasing demands despite additional funding.

The committee members expressed support for the supplemental appropriation, emphasizing the importance of addressing the underspending issues and ensuring that CBOs can effectively deliver services. Following a brief public comment period with no speakers, the committee voted unanimously to forward the ordinance to the full board with a positive recommendation.

In summary, the meeting underscored the ongoing efforts of San Francisco County to enhance support for low-income families through the CalWORKs housing support program while addressing challenges related to funding utilization and service delivery capacity.