Residents, commissioners press Housing Authority over Plaza East repairs, communication and services funding

San Francisco Housing Authority commissioners heard multiple residents and service providers on March 30 describe persistent repair problems, limited communication from property management and questions about how resident services funds are being spent at Plaza East.

The commission’s chief executive officer, Tanya Leggett, told commissioners that the authority has set aside $2,000,000 to address vacant units at Plaza East and that the work on those 29 vacant apartments “should be completed within 3 to 6 months.” She said an RFP for work on occupied units will go out and that inspections of every occupied unit will begin in late April.

Those updates came during a public-comment period and a services presentation by FRH Consulting, which manages on-site resident services at Plaza East. Camille Hegney, a service coordinator for FRH, reported the group provided weekly hot meals to 25 families, hosted monthly coffee hours and a Valentine’s event, and recorded 165 residents served in January and 170 in February (the organization said it would provide unduplicated counts in future reports).

Residents told the commission those services do not erase what they described as long-standing maintenance and communication failures. “They have been putting band‑aids on the property,” said Margaret McNulty during general public comment, describing repeat flooding and what she said were repairs that failed soon after completion. Resident council leader Martha (last name not specified in the record) said contractors and crews often arrive with little notice, that some yards and units are only cleaned or power‑washed around HUD inspections, and that resident leadership is not reliably informed about work on site.

Commissioners and staff described the division of responsibilities after conversions under the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program: the Housing Authority retains oversight and voucher administration for some units, while resident services and ongoing property management oversight for RAD‑converted buildings are handled through the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development and third‑party managers. Leggett said the authority continues to coordinate with John Stewart Company (the on‑site property manager) and with HUD and MOHCD on Plaza East matters.

Residents and community leaders also raised questions about how resident‑services funds are being used. Dennis Williams and other speakers urged more local contracting and Section 3 workforce opportunities for San Francisco contractors. A community representative said residents understood approximately $400,000 had been allocated for resident services at Plaza East and asked how that money would be used; Leggett and staff said program details and additional reporting will be provided as management and oversight plans are finalized. FRH and resident leaders also asked that laundry‑fund disbursements and other small revenue streams be routed directly to tenant associations rather than through developers.

The commission agreed to maintain a roughly monthly cadence of follow‑up: Leggett and staff indicated they will meet with resident leaders every four to six weeks and that the authority will provide more detailed and ongoing reports from John Stewart and the service provider on repairs, vacancies and resident services. Commissioners said they would press for improved communication around contractors, backyard access, and timelines for repairs.

The commission did not take a formal vote on Plaza East work at the March 30 meeting; Leggett described funding commitments and timelines but said additional federal developments could affect longer‑term capital plans.