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Dignity Fund plans and senior advocates press for expanded rental subsidies, outreach and transportation
Summary
DAS Director Shereen McSpadden and advocacy groups briefed supervisors on Dignity Fund allocations and needs assessment results; advocates requested continued and new rental subsidies, eviction defense funding, outreach ($600K), behavioral health specialists and transportation expansion to prevent senior homelessness and isolation.
Department of Aging and Adult Services Director Shereen McSpadden outlined how the Dignity Fund’s initial $6 million was used after Proposition I and previewed the department’s plan to allocate the full $51 million in the coming year based on a community needs assessment.
McSpadden said the needs assessment and 11 district forums identified priorities including nutrition and home‑delivered meals, outreach and public information about services, intergenerational programs, expanded transportation and targeted services for seniors with limited English proficiency and adults with disabilities. "We're gonna spend the next year allocating the full $51,000,000 of our dignity fund dollars," McSpadden said.
Senior and Disability Action representatives urged specific funding levels: continued rental subsidy funding ($1.55M continued plus $3M new), $600,000 for a year‑round outreach campaign, $550,000 for behavioral health specialists, $465,000 to expand transportation trips and $200,000 for housing support staff at ADRC centers. They also asked for legal services funding to prevent evictions for seniors and people with disabilities.
Chair Cohen and other supervisors signaled limited resources but committed to reviewing priorities during the budget process; DAS said many programs would continue on a one‑year extension while DCYF and other departments complete RFPs to avoid service lapses.
Next steps: the department will return with detailed allocations and program metrics in subsequent hearings as part of the mayor’s budget cycle.
