Supervisors’ committee forwards $14.5 million amendment to Catholic Charities rapid‑rehousing grant

The Budget and Finance Committee voted Feb. 5 to forward to the full Board of Supervisors a resolution authorizing a fourth amendment to the city's grant with Catholic Charities for the SF HOME Rapid Rehousing Program for Families, extending the contract term and increasing total spending authority.

The amendment, presented by the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH), would extend the grant term by 16 months to June 30, 2026, and increase the not-to-exceed amount to about $14,500,000. "The amendment will extend the term by 16 months to operate through 06/30/2026 and increase the not to exceed amount by $4,100,000 for new not to exceed amount of approximately 14,500,000.0," HSH representative Emily Cohen said during the meeting.

HSH said the contract pays Catholic Charities to operate short-term rental subsidies and housing-focused case management for families exiting homelessness. Cohen told the committee the amendment adds capacity to serve 29 additional households and that the program has strong outcomes: "Clients of the original program 82% of clients in the original program exited to permanent housing solutions at the end of their subsidies," she said, and later, "97% of the households maintained their housing for the first 12 months." The department also said the contract was reviewed and approved by the Homelessness Oversight Commission in January 2025.

Vice Chair Matt Dorsey and Chair Connie Chan questioned operational details, including how families are matched with units and whether the city maintains a master list of available private rental units. Cohen said HSH does not maintain a centralized master list of private units; instead, providers such as Catholic Charities develop and maintain landlord relationships and identify units for the families they serve. HSH described coordinated entry processes that match families to different housing interventions (rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing) based on vulnerability and need.

Committee members pressed on capacity and pace of placements. Cohen said there are about 320 families on the shelter waiting list and noted monthly placement rates can vary; "Last month, it was 40. It was 27 the month before," she said. Cohen said shelter operations cost roughly $212 per night on average and that rapid rehousing subsidies are a different intervention with higher per‑household annual cost because they include rent and services.

A Catholic Charities speaker, Deputy Director Catherine Lee, addressed the committee during public comment and affirmed the agency's commitment to expanding landlord outreach and culturally competent services. "We are committed to serving the city of San Francisco and the residents here that we love this work and we love this service," Lee said.

The committee voted 3-0 to forward the resolution to the full Board with a positive recommendation. The clerk recorded votes as: Dorsey, aye; Engadio, aye; Chan, aye.

The resolution will return for a full Board vote. The amendment would extend an existing program that provides time‑limited rental subsidies, landlord liaison services and housing navigation for families exiting homelessness and is largely funded, the department said, by Prop C and other local resources.