The San Francisco County government meeting on July 4, 2025, focused on addressing significant issues related to housing vacancies and the performance of service providers under grant agreements. The discussion highlighted concerns about the high vacancy rates in supportive housing, particularly within the THC properties, which have been under scrutiny due to their inability to meet grant requirements.

During the meeting, officials reviewed a draft program monitoring report that revealed gaps between the expected and actual performance of the housing provider. Key issues included a high number of vacancies, inadequate documentation of supportive service outcomes, and maintenance problems, such as an out-of-service elevator. In light of these findings, the recommendation was made to extend the current contract for one year instead of three, allowing for closer oversight and the opportunity for the provider to demonstrate improvements.

The Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) acknowledged the challenges and outlined several initiatives aimed at reducing vacancies. These included lowering documentation requirements for housing placements, improving property management funding, and implementing a new housing placement team to expedite the process of moving individuals from shelters into permanent housing. Currently, the overall vacancy rate stands at approximately 9.5%, translating to about 900 units, with only 300 ready for immediate occupancy.

Supervisors expressed mixed feelings about the proposed one-year extension, with some advocating for a two-year extension to provide stability while still ensuring accountability. They emphasized the need for regular updates on vacancy rates and the performance of housing providers to ensure that the issues are being addressed effectively.

The meeting concluded with a consensus on the importance of ongoing communication and monitoring of housing vacancies, as well as a commitment to explore additional resources and strategies to make supportive housing more attractive to potential residents. The board plans to hold quarterly hearings to track progress and address the systemic issues contributing to the high vacancy rates.