DAS approves four grants and contract modifications to fund home care, meals, emergency beds and community living services

The San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services commission voted unanimously May 7 to approve four funding actions to support services for older adults and people with disabilities, including short-term home care, congregate and restaurant-based nutrition programs, emergency residential beds and a modification to the Community Living Fund.

Votes were unanimous on each item. The package included: a new grant with Self Help for the Elderly to provide short-term home care services (chores, homemaker and personal care) from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2029, for $842,772 plus a 10% contingency (not to exceed $927,049); three congregate- and CHAMPS-based nutrition grants with Self Help for the Elderly totaling $12,573,404 plus a 10% contingency (agenda materials listed a not-to-exceed figure of approximately $15.8 million); a four-year contract with Merced 3 Residential Care to reserve three short-term residential care beds for Adult Protective Services clients for $810,300 plus a 10% contingency (not to exceed $891,330); and a modification to the Institute on Aging grant to expand Community Living Fund services over fiscal years 2025–2027.

Zhiqing Li, a program analyst with DAS’ Office of Community Partnerships, described the short-term home care grant (agenda item 11A) as a distinct program from in‑home supportive services (IHSS) that serves people who are not on IHSS or who have urgent needs while waiting for IHSS to begin. Li said the program is funded under Title III‑B of the Older Americans Act and "is not a means-tested program," meaning eligibility is not strictly limited to Medi‑Cal recipients.

Tiffany Kearney, DAS lead nutritionist, presented the congregate and CHAMPS meal proposals (11B). She said Self Help for the Elderly — a long-standing provider in San Francisco — will continue traditional dine-in sites and a CHAMPS restaurant model that offers dining choice and social engagement. Kearney reported high consumer satisfaction under the existing contract: 95% of traditional participants rated meals excellent or good and nearly all respondents reported reduced food worry and greater connection to community.

Ben Cestios of Adult Protective Services presented item 11C and described the Merced 3 bed placements as an "important intervention" for clients who need short-term stabilization after unsafe discharges or when facing unsafe living conditions. Cestios said in the prior contract cycle the beds diverted clients from emergency rooms in over a dozen instances and were occupied between roughly two-thirds and fully occupied at times, producing availability when urgent need arose.

On item 11D, Zhiqing Li asked to modify an existing Institute on Aging agreement for the Community Living Fund (CLFP). Li said one corrected appendix reduces a target number for a service objective and that the modification includes additional funds to expand community support and enhanced care management services tied to CalAIM reimbursement flows. Li also said the department plans to transition six clients from the Home Safe program to CLFP to preserve continuity of care; Li provided the specific figure of an additional $3,886,314 for the two fiscal years 2025–27 during her presentation and noted the modification will be partially offset by San Francisco Health Plan reimbursements.

Each item was moved, seconded and approved by roll call. The vote roster recorded President Janet Y. Spears, Vice President Nelson Lum, and Commissioners Martha Knudson, Sasha Buettner, Wanda Jeong and Linda Parker Pennington voting yes on all four items.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about eligibility, dine‑in versus to‑go meal options, CHAMPS enrollment procedures and outreach; staff said Self Help and the DAS Benefits and Resources Hub handle outreach and enrollment. No public callers spoke on the items.

Votes at a glance: the commission approved all four items by unanimous roll-call votes; the contracts and grants proceed as described and will be implemented in partnership with the named providers.