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Commission approves roughly $5.1 million in senior program grants, expands neighborhood choir network
Summary
The commission approved a package of grants and contracts totaling about $5.1 million in base funding, including a major new contract and a transition of neighborhood choir funding to Community Music Center; members and beneficiaries testified in support.
San Francisco's Department of Aging and Adult Services commission voted to approve a series of grant agreements and a contract to expand neighborhood programming for older adults and adults with disabilities, including a multi-year direct grant to Community Music Center to support choir programs and a contract for heavy cleanups that supports housing stability.
On the agenda were a set of related approvals (Items A'K). The commission authorized a modification to an existing Catholic Charities contract to permit a $160,000 subcontract to Community Music Center (Item A) to maintain services through Feb. 29, 2020 while procurement transitions the program. It then approved a new direct grant to Community Music Center for neighborhood choirs (Item B) covering March 1, 2020'June 30, 2023 with base funding of $800,000 (contingency up to $880,000), which the department said will expand the existing choir network and formalize city funding.
Michael Zwag (presenting staff) cited an evidence base for the program, pointing commissioners to the UCSF "Choir Voices" study and staff findings that choir participation reduces loneliness and increases social connection. Community Music Center representatives and choir members testified on community benefits: Sylvia Sherman (Community Music Center) described a long partnership with DAS and that the network currently includes 13 choirs across the city (multilingual offerings in English, Spanish, Tagalog, Cantonese), and choir member Claudia Anderson described friendships, mutual support and transportation help that grew out of choir participation.
The commission also approved Item C, a new contract with M and M Hauling to provide one-time heavy cleanups and pest-preparation services to meet state-mandated tangible-support obligations for victims of abuse, neglect and self-neglect. Staff said the contract is expected to serve about 140'150 older adults and adults with disabilities per year.
A series of neighborhood grants (Items D'K) was approved in a single consent-style sequence after presentations. Highlights include:
- Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center: mobile senior services to five affordable housing sites (Item D). - Booker T. Washington Community Service Center: senior wellness programming (Item E). - Community Living Campaign: Potrero Hill Community Connectors (Item F). - Next Village SF: District 2 University programming (Item G). - Self-Help for the Elderly: social connections program (Item H). - Sequoia Living: Aquatic Park Community Connectors (Item I). - UCSF Memory and Aging Center: Community Arts for Brain Health initiative (Item J). - Bayview Hunters Point YMCA: Silver Plus wellness programming (Item K).
Staff noted Community Music Center will leverage its own resources and match nearly 90% of each DOS dollar, and that choir director/accompanist costs are modest per choir (presented in the budget appendix). Commissioners asked about program expansion, logistics and evaluation; presenters said the choir model is low-cost to replicate, culturally responsive, and will be tracked for outreach and service referrals.
All items A'K were approved by voice vote. The panel heard multiple public comments urging continued support for choirs and neighborhood programming, with beneficiaries describing social, linguistic and mobility benefits tied to the arts-based programs.
Votes at a glance (outcomes as recorded): item_A (modification to Catholic Charities contract) ' approved; item_B (new grant to Community Music Center) ' approved; item_C (M and M Hauling contract) ' approved; items_D'K (Bernal Heights, Booker T. Washington, Community Living Campaign, Next Village SF, Self-Help for the Elderly, Sequoia Living, UCSF Memory & Aging, Bayview YMCA) ' all approved.
The approvals formalize ongoing efforts to use arts, neighborhood connectors and targeted contracts to increase social connections, provide service referrals, and address housing-related health and safety needs among older adults and adults with disabilities.
