Supervisors debate homelessness oversight commission; vote moves charter amendment back to rules committee after schedule change

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors spent a sustained portion of its July 23 meeting debating a proposed charter amendment that would create a homelessness oversight commission to oversee the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing.

Supervisor Matt Haney, the measure’s lead sponsor, told the board the commission would replace a patchwork of advisory bodies, provide a single public venue to review policy and budgets, and give the public and providers a clear forum to influence decisions. “We need to deliver more effective services in more places, to get people into shelter and supportive housing, and we need to do it faster than we are now,” Haney said, describing the proposal as a “common sense” governance change.

Key details of the proposal include a seven-member commission with appointments split among the mayor (three seats), the board of supervisors (three seats) and the controller (one seat); a role for the commission to review and approve the department’s budget; authority to conduct performance audits; and members selected with emphasis…