Residents and service providers urge supervisors to fund homelessness services, SRO repairs and senior supports

At a June 20 Board of Supervisors Budget & Finance Committee hearing, dozens of residents and nonprofit leaders pressed the supervisors to prioritize funding for homelessness prevention and supportive services in the coming fiscal years.

Speakers from the Homeless Emergency Services Providers Association (HESPA), Hospitality House and the Budget Justice Coalition asked the Board to fund eviction prevention legal services, housing subsidies and employment programs they said help people move into and stay in housing. "We need employment services," said Jose Bernal, program manager at Hospitality House's shelter program, testifying that employment is a major barrier to housing stability for people who are unhoused. Advocates asked the Board to match mayoral investments already committed for the first year of several programs.

Advocates for seniors and people with disabilities also made specific budget requests. Senior and Disability Action representatives asked for a "Support at Home" subsidy program to help low‑income seniors and disabled residents pay for attendant care; speakers requested $2 million to expand that program. Several residents and advocates urged $2 million for SRO elevator repairs and $500,000 for a housing‑modifications fund to pay for ramps and grab bars so people can remain safely in their homes. "I live on the Seventh Floor, so if the elevator goes out...I'm thinking I'm having a heart attack," said Doug Hosterman, an SRO resident, describing repeated elevator outages.

Childcare and youth services were a persistent theme. Parent Voices and child-care advocates urged $2 million for toddler and infant subsidies, citing a waiting list of thousands of young children for childcare slots. Youth organizers also pressed for increased allocations from the Children and Youth Fund to expand transitional‑age youth services.

Nonprofit leaders described measurable outcomes from existing programs. Bay Area Legal Aid and eviction‑prevention groups said legal representation prevents evictions and preserves scarce affordable units; Hospitality House and the Homeless Employment Collaborative reported housing and employment placements tied to their services and urged continuation of year‑two funding for programs partially funded by the mayor.

The committee did not take action on any of the requests during the hearing; after public comment the committee agreed to continue the budget items to its regular Wednesday meeting for further consideration.