Board approves $978,000 state loan to renovate Jennings Street site for homeless shelter after amendments and split votes

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a $978,000 forgivable loan from the State Department of Housing and Community Development to renovate a leased building at 2115 Jennings Street for use as a homeless shelter, after adopting a package of amendments that drew debate over rezoning, proximity to a playground and the role of probation in enforcing state law about registered offenders.

Supervisor Cohen introduced and moved the amendments; Supervisor Breed seconded. The board voted on three separate amendment blocks and then on the underlying resolution. The final vote to adopt the resolution as amended was 9 ayes, 2 noes.

The adopted amendments require the city to pursue a rezoning for the parcel, call for forming a community advisory committee to evaluate on-site security and operations, and request a report back to the Board of Supervisors within one year of the shelter’s opening. One adopted whereas clause restated state law that restricts where registered sex offenders may reside and said adult probation would be responsible for enforcement; the Human Services Agency (HSA) will not conduct prescreening for shelter entry and the board added language making clear that nothing in the clause imposes new obligations on HSA.

Jason Elliott of the Mayor’s Office told the board that “it is our understanding that a rezoning would be required on this parcel.” Trent Rohrer, director of the Human Services Agency, said HSA “do[es] not do any sort of screening or background checks in order to enter our emergency homeless shelters,” and that the amendment describing state law was meant to reflect existing requirements rather than create a new prescreening regime. Deputy City Attorney John Givner read language into the record clarifying that “nothing in this clause imposes any additional obligations on the human services agency,” language Supervisor Cohen accepted as a friendly amendment.

Rohrer told supervisors a potential enforcement path would run through adult probation: if an individual on probation is restricted from living within a statutory distance of a park or school, that restriction would be enforced by probation staff rather than by HSA. Rohrer also told the board HSA intends to convene a community advisory body when siting shelters and would assess security needs and report to the board as part of standard siting practice.

Several supervisors said they supported the loan because it brings state funding for shelter capacity into the city, but many expressed continuing concerns about community outreach and long-term operations. Supervisor Breed said HSA should not be expected to pre‑screen shelter users and that HSA’s role is to provide access to shelter for people who need it. Supervisor Avalos said he would support the underlying funding but opposed one amendment that he said risked setting a poor precedent about inserting unrelated language into resolutions. Supervisor Wiener and others emphasized the vote was to accept state funding and that operational and zoning steps would follow through the normal processes.

The measure is technically an authorization for the Human Services Agency to enter into the $978,000 forgivable loan agreement with the State Department of Housing and Community Development for renovations at 2115 Jennings Street. The adopted package also directs a rezoning process before conversion, requires a community advisory committee to advise on security and operations, and asks for a one‑year post‑opening report to the board.

Implementation steps remain: the site will require rezoning before a shelter can operate under the city’s land‑use framework, and the HSA indicated any enforcement of state restrictions on where registered offenders may reside would be handled by adult probation rather than by shelter intake staff. The resolution passed after divided votes on the separate amendment blocks and the final adoption.

Votes at key steps: supervisors approved the second amendment block (which restated state restrictions on residency for registered offenders) 7–4 and approved the community‑advisory and reporting clauses unanimously. The final resolution passed, as amended, 9–2.

The board’s action authorizes HSA to accept the state forgivable loan; details of scope, timeline and a contractor for renovation were not determined in the hearing and will follow standard procurement and land‑use processes.

Ending

The board’s vote clears the way for HSA to take the next administrative steps to renovate the leased 2115 Jennings Street premises using the HCD forgivable loan. Supervisors and HSA repeatedly emphasized that rezoning, community outreach and coordination with adult probation are outstanding items that must be completed before the facility begins full operations.