San Francisco DAS approves about $20.5 million in grants and contracts to support older adults and people with disabilities

The San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services Commission on its January meeting unanimously approved a package of grants and contracts that the department says will expand services for older adults and people with disabilities across the city.

The approved awards include a mix of state CARES Act funding, renewals of existing provider contracts and new multi-year grants. Taken together, the baseline amounts presented in the meeting sum to roughly $20.5 million; each contract also carries the staff‑recommended 10% contingency authorized by the commission.

’We have completed a rapid assessment of our local coordinated response to COVID‑19,’ Kate Chenowen, benefits and resource hub director, said when presenting the California Department on Aging CARES Act allocation. She told commissioners the state had allocated “approximately $151,000” to support the Shanti Project’s CERB volunteer COVID response work, which Chenowen said has already matched more than 800 residents with volunteers.

Votes at a glance

- CARES Act funds for Shanti Project (CERB) — baseline: $151,000; outcome: approved unanimously. (Presentation: Kate Chenowen, SEG 925–976.) - Senior Companion Program — Family Service Agency/Felton Institute; baseline: $224,800; contingency total not to exceed $247,280; outcome: approved unanimously. (Presentation: staff Trevino, SEG 1018–1176.) - Legal Assistance to the Elderly (two agreements) — baseline: $309,000; contingency not to exceed $339,900; outcome: approved unanimously. (Presentation: Rhianna Albert, SEG 1178–1247.) - Aging & Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) citywide contracts — baseline combined: $5,096,908; contingency not to exceed $5,606,599; outcome: approved unanimously. (Presentation: Sarah Hoffenberg, SEG 1375–1518.) - Mental Health Association — collecting/hoarding services; baseline: $1,045,772; contingency not to exceed $1,150,349; outcome: approved unanimously. (Presentation: Melissa McGee, SEG 1610–1730.) - Alzheimer’s Association — LGBTQ‑focused dementia care services; baseline: $757,502; transcript contains inconsistent contingency totals (see clarifying details); outcome: approved unanimously. (Presentation: Rick Appleby, SEG 1750–2180.) - Long‑term housing subsidies (three providers) — baseline: $10,850,000; contingency not to exceed $11,935,000; outcome: approved unanimously. (Presentation: Rick Appleby, public comment by Self Help for the Elderly, SEG 2314–2448.) - Senior and Disability Action — empowerment, advocacy and long‑term care consumer rights programs; baseline: $2,100,000; contingency not to exceed $2,310,000; outcome: approved unanimously. (Presentation: Rick Appleby; public comment by Jessica Lehman, SEG 2455–2694.)

What the grants fund and why they matter

The ADRC contracts are intended to maintain citywide information-and-referral hubs that provide language access, benefits assistance and follow-up case work. Sarah Hoffenberg told commissioners the ADRC network is structured to ensure at least one ADRC in each supervisory district and requires a minimum that 10% of clients served be adults with disabilities.

Housing subsidies were the largest single allocation in baseline dollars. Rick Appleby said the long‑term subsidy program identifies residents who need rental support, provides an intake and case management process and—where possible—helps secure more permanent affordable housing or other funding streams so subsidies can be tapered. Winnie Yu of Self Help for the Elderly, a provider awarded part of the housing contract, urged the commission to continue the program’s focus on preventing eviction during the pandemic.

Legal services, dementia-focused training and a hoarding/collecting behavior program were among the social‑service supports renewed or expanded in the package; presenters described pandemic-era adaptations including virtual outreach, mailed newsletters and targeted community partnerships.

Next steps

Staff will execute the authorized contracts and return any required documentation to the commission’s docket. Several presenters said outreach and recruitment efforts would continue to shift to virtual channels while maintaining phone and mail options for residents who cannot access online services.