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OEWD touts sector academies and city pipeline; advocates urge restoration of homeless employment funds

Budget and Finance Committee, Board of Supervisors · May 3, 2018
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Summary

OEWD described a citywide workforce system with sector academies and a $15M contracting portfolio; workforce advocates and the Homeless Employment Collaborative told the committee $1.4M in McKinney funds was repurposed and urged restoration and expansion (coalition asked ~$3M) to resume employment services for homeless jobseekers.

Todd Ruffo, director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD), and staff presented the city’s workforce strategy, which centers sector academies, barrier removal services and a pipeline into city jobs as retirements create new entry‑level openings.

OEWD reported contracting roughly $15 million for workforce programs, including about $8.1 million for sector academies and $1.5 million for specialized access points that serve populations with acute barriers to work. The department emphasized placement verification and noted sector academies have maintained about 70% placement rates amid a tightening labor market.

Representatives of the Budget Justice Coalition and the Homeless Employment Collaborative urged restoration of roughly $1.4 million in McKinney funds that were reallocated by HSA during FY17/18 to cover a federal CalFresh waiver lapse. Joe Wilson and providers said that loss reduced outreach and placement capacity for homeless jobseekers and asked the committee to restore funding and consider a larger $3M investment to expand services; hospitality house and other CBOs said restored resources could substantially increase placements and housing exits.

OEWD said it is coordinating with DHR and other departments to identify civil‑service entry jobs and prepare community providers to connect residents to those openings. The committee asked OEWD for data on placement longevity and agreed to follow up on the status of the repurposed funds.

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