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OCO committee backs $900K–$1M to expand hotel vouchers for families, including pregnant and postpartum people
Summary
The committee recommended leveraging a projected $900,000–$1,000,000 surplus in the shelter and hygiene service area to expand hotel vouchers, targeting approximately 40 families (about 10 rooms nightly) and prioritizing families with dependents and pregnant/postpartum people; the motion passed by roll call.
The Our City, Our Home Oversight Committee voted April 24 to recommend that the mayor and Board of Supervisors fully fund shelter and hygiene programs at the levels proposed by the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH), and to leverage projected surplus funds in that service area to expand hotel voucher capacity for families.
Specifically, the committee recommended leveraging between $900,000 and $1,000,000 of projected surplus shelter funding to expand hotel vouchers to serve as many homeless families as possible — or approximately 40 families per year — prioritizing families with dependents and pregnant and postpartum people. Member Friedenbach, who introduced the proposal, said the measure responds to a large shelter wait list and to requests from the Homeless Emergency Service Providers Association (HESPA). "As of yesterday, we had 270 families on the shelter wait list," Friedenbach said during discussion.
Discussion and concerns: Committee members debated whether to prioritize a fixed dollar amount or a target number of families. Some members favored specifying the amount to preserve flexibility for providers to extend stays when needed; others favored a target family count to emphasize outcomes. The final language used both elements: the identified dollar range and an approximate family target, with the committee adding wording to prioritize pregnant and postpartum people and families with dependents. Member Walton argued fund‑focused flexibility helps avoid truncating necessary stays for individual families.
Public testimony: Several community providers and people with lived experience urged approval. Megan Rohr of Compass Family Services and other HESPA representatives emphasized voucher numbers and extensions, noting that "extensions are available to anyone who is a family as long as they're meeting with their caseworker during their weekly meeting." Speakers from Jelani House and Homeless Prenatal Program described how extended subsidies can prevent families from returning to the streets.
Vote and next steps: The amended motion — to leverage $900,000–$1,000,000 to expand hotel vouchers and serve approximately 40 families per year, prioritizing families with dependents and pregnant or postpartum people — was moved by Member Friedenbach and seconded by Member Haddix. Vice Chair D'Antonio recused from the item; the motion passed by roll call (yes votes recorded from Member Friedenbach, Member Haddix, Member Schifrin, Member Walton and Chair Williams, among others recorded on the roll call). The committee recommended the mayor and board accept the funding direction; implementation and exact voucher counts will depend on HSH contracting, hotel availability and voucher costs.
