Committee recommends $20.1 million for rent relief and housing stability fund to full Board

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ Budget and Appropriations Committee voted March 23 to forward to the full Board an ordinance appropriating $10,050,000 for rent relief and $10,050,000 for the Housing Stability Fund for fiscal year 2020–21.

Chair Matt Haney opened discussion after the clerk read the ordinance and said the Budget Legislative Analyst’s Office had previously reported on the item and was available to answer questions. Supervisor Preston spoke in support of the measure, thanking committee members and urging approval to allocate initial Proposition I revenue to the Rent Relief and Relief Fund and the Housing Stability Fund.

“Just wanted to urge support for this item to allocate the initial, Prop I revenue to Rent Resolution and Relief Fund and the Housing Stability Fund,” Supervisor Preston said.

Vice Chair Safaei asked to be added as a co-sponsor. No members of the public called in to provide comment on the item. Chair Haney moved that the committee recommend the ordinance to the full Board as a committee report; President Walton seconded. The roll-call vote recorded four ayes and one absence (Supervisor Ronan absent). The motion passed and Item 1 will be considered by the full Board at its 2:00 p.m. meeting on March 23, 2021.

The ordinance appropriates a total of $20,100,000 in property tax revenue split equally between rent relief and the Housing Stability Fund for acquisition, creation and operation of affordable and social housing. The Budget Legislative Analyst indicated the item is a policy matter for the Board and had no revised report for this hearing. The committee characterized the amendments and sponsorship additions as non-substantive technical matters.