A recent government meeting in San Francisco highlighted urgent calls for increased funding for youth services, particularly from the Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families (DCYF). Community members, including parents, youth advocates, and service providers, expressed deep concerns over budget cuts that threaten essential summer programs for vulnerable children and families.

Brian Hazleton, a community advocate, shared the plight of a single mother of three who is unable to secure summer camp placements due to insufficient funding at DCYF. He emphasized the need for an expanded budget to ensure that community-based organizations can adequately support youth in participating in the workforce during the summer months.

Dr. Stephanie Chiquillo, a psychological associate at the Central American Resource Center, echoed these sentiments, recalling her own experiences growing up in the Mission District. She urged the city to restore funding to programs that have historically provided critical support to Latinx and immigrant families, highlighting the positive impact these services have on community safety and well-being.

Austin Ballard, a street outreach worker, passionately opposed the proposed budget cuts, citing the closure of the H Street referral center, which has served homeless youth for decades. He warned that reducing funding for social services would ultimately lead to greater costs for the community, as vulnerable individuals slip through the cracks of the social safety net.

Youth organizers from the YMCA and Coleman Advocates also voiced their concerns, stressing that budget cuts disproportionately affect Black and Brown youth. Raquel De La Cruz Montes and Axel, a junior at GGCA, both highlighted the importance of these programs in empowering young people and providing them with necessary resources and support.

The meeting underscored a collective call to action from community members who are advocating for the restoration and increase of funding for youth services. As San Francisco grapples with budgetary constraints, the voices of those directly impacted by these decisions are urging city leaders to prioritize the needs of its most vulnerable residents. The outcome of these discussions will be crucial in shaping the future of youth support services in the city.