Health Commission approves 76‑bed Eleonora Fagan (Keene) respite contract with Westside Community Services

The San Francisco Health Commission on June 5 approved a contract with Westside Community Services to operate 76 non‑congregate respite beds at 1018 Mission Street, a site the department has called the Eleonora Fagan Center (also referred to in materials as the Keene). The one‑year base contract is $6,950,000 with a 12% contingency; the meeting record lists the total with contingency as approximately $7,774,934.

The commission and department framed the project as a front‑door stabilization resource for people exiting street homelessness who are ready to enter drug‑free care. “The KEEN’s aim is to rapidly connect people to care who are exiting homelessness and ready to begin a journey in recovery,” said Christy Soren, deputy medical director for substance use services. The model offers short‑term (30–60 day) stays with intensive case management and clinical linkages.

Why it matters: DPH leaders described the center as one critical gap in the city’s continuum between low‑barrier street‑based outreach and residential treatment. By providing immediate stabilization, wound care, medication support and rapid referrals to residential programs or permanent housing, DPH officials said they expect to reduce street suffering and improve outcomes for people with severe behavioral‑health needs.

Program details and oversight - Capacity and staffing: Westside will operate 76 beds with 24‑hour on‑site staffing for safety and client support; the proposal projects roughly 500 individuals served annually. - Services: A field‑based clinical team from Westside’s outpatient clinic will provide behavioral‑health assessments and wraparound care; nursing staff will address urgent primary‑care needs and wound care; case managers will coordinate transitions to longer‑term treatment or housing. - Entry and rules: The site accepts referrals from street teams, hospitals and community providers and will also accept walk‑ins. Participants must be homeless (or exiting homelessness), able to live in a substance‑free setting and agree to program rules; staff said people not able to meet those requirements will be linked to more appropriate levels of care, such as sobering centers or withdrawal management. - Monitoring: DPH will monitor the contract through weekly (startup) then monthly meetings, quarterly performance reports, site visits and unannounced inspections; the contract requires a continuous improvement plan and sets performance objectives.

Community engagement and safety measures DPH and Westside completed Prop I notice steps and held a community meeting May 12. Staff said targeted outreach included door‑to‑door outreach to 24 nearby businesses and an email address to receive public feedback. Commissioners heard that community members raised safety as a primary concern. In response, the contract includes a strict no‑loitering requirement and a DPH “good neighbor” policy requiring the operator to address sidewalk and street conditions immediately. The mayor’s office and police said they would assign ongoing patrol and support resources and provide a QR reporting code for non‑emergency reports.

Commission action The Health Commission moved and seconded approval on the item and adopted the contract by voice vote. The meeting record shows the commission approved the agreement; DPH staff said services will begin after contract certification and startup, with program oversight closely tracked.

Provider perspective and public comment Westside’s executive director noted the organization will not turn people away and emphasized a low‑barrier, accountability‑focused approach: “The key thing is for us to create a safe environment that is drug free, that is also no violence and peaceful for a person to be able to come and access,” Cedric Akbar said. The mayor’s office public safety representative, Steven Betts, told the commission the Police Department supports the program and would prioritize response and resources to the corridor.

The commission directed DPH to report back on startup and monitoring progress; DPH said it will bring updates in future director’s reports.