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OCII, MOHCD outline outreach plan for Certificate of Preference holders; staff to procure investigator and launch interactive map
Summary
OCII and the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development reported outreach and marketing outcomes for Certificate of Preference (COP) holders in FY 2018–19, noting roughly 950 active holders engaged and 13 COP holders housed during the year; staff proposed hiring an investigator and building an interactive map to locate eligible holders and improve outreach.
OCII and the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development presented the FY 2018–19 Certificate of Preference (COP) outreach report on Nov. 19 and outlined steps to improve outreach to holders and their descendants.
Pam Sims, OCII senior development specialist, reported that about 950 COP holders were engaged with MOHCD as of June 30, 2019. In the reporting year OCII had four rental projects go to lottery (247 units) and more than 20,500 applicants for those lotteries; of the COP applicants who applied, 13 were housed in the reporting period. Sims described ongoing outreach including COP mailings, eligibility confirmation, and hands‑on assistance through a COP coordinator (Sonia McDaniel), and said OCII will continue income tiering and other strategies to match unit types to COP preferences.
Sims and MOHCD staff described planned outreach investments: procuring a private investigator to locate additional eligible holders (using site occupancy lists and social media resources) and developing an interactive map to help people assess likely eligibility. The report cited a Lake Research Partners 2017 survey that found COP holders tend to be older Black women with incomes under $30,000 and that many prefer senior housing or units in the Western Addition and Mission Bay areas.
Public commenters who identify as COP holders recounted displacement histories and credited outreach efforts — including investigator work — with helping them reengage. Cassandra Ciartino described being reached by outreach and returning to San Francisco into an OCII BMR unit after initial skepticism. Commissioners asked questions about DAHLIA use by older COP holders and about rental subsidy sources; Pam Sims and Maria Benjamin of MOHCD said DAHLIA remains a primary tool, most holders can use it with help, and that rental subsidies are limited and often provided through the Q Foundation or housing authority vouchers when available.
Staff said they will continue debriefing applicants to learn why some withdraw and will launch targeted outreach efforts to increase COP housing placements going forward.
