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Board adopts emergency ordinance to secure hotel rooms for vulnerable residents; requires reporting
Summary
The Board passed an emergency ordinance directing the City to secure hotel rooms for people experiencing homelessness and certain vulnerable groups during the COVID‑19 emergency, with daily reporting requirements and operational standards; the ordinance passed after amendments, 11‑0.
The Board of Supervisors on April 14 adopted an emergency ordinance directing the City to expand hotel‑based non‑congregate sheltering for people experiencing homelessness, people leaving hospitals who need quarantine, and certain other vulnerable groups during the COVID‑19 emergency.
The ordinance, introduced as an emergency measure and approved under the City Charter’s emergency provision, suspends portions of the normal competitive procurement process in order to secure hotel and motel rooms quickly. It requires departments to make daily reports to the Board on room use and operations; to follow screening, distancing and health protocols; and to prioritize populations including people in shelters, SROs, and those released from hospitals or jail. The ordinance also requires congregate care providers to comply with social‑distancing practices and screening protocols.
Supervisor Ronan, who led the measure, said the ordinance was compelled by urgent public‑health needs after outbreaks at congregate shelters and cited the city’s ability to obtain FEMA/state reimbursement for hotel costs. Colleagues across the Board framed the measure as a public‑health imperative; some members stressed the need for careful contracting and for transparency about staff, indemnities and reporting standards.
The Board adopted minor amendments clarifying reporting language and accepted a managerial amendment to allow departments to report demographic summary data “to the extent such data is available to the city.” The ordinance passed unanimously on final vote.
Why it matters: Non‑congregate sheltering is a public‑health strategy to reduce COVID‑19 spread in high‑risk congregate settings and to protect shelter residents, staff and the broader community. The ordinance creates binding procurement and operations requirements and a reporting regime for the City’s hotel‑room expansion.
What’s next: Departments must implement hotel contracts, begin daily reporting to the Board per the ordinance, and continue to pursue federal and state reimbursement for costs.
