Supervisors back ordinance to create Our City, Our Home oversight committee with amendment

The Government Audit & Oversight Committee recommended an ordinance to establish an Our City, Our Home Oversight Committee that will monitor tax revenue from the homelessness gross receipts tax approved by voters in November 2018. Supervisor Valley Brown, a co‑sponsor, said the committee is intended to provide community‑led oversight as funding becomes available and proposed a small amendment to Section 514.4 to require election of a chair, vice chair and allow the committee to adopt bylaws and additional officers.

Community advocates, including representatives of the Our City, Our Home Coalition, praised the legislation and urged the committee to ensure the panel includes people with lived experience, behavioral health capacity and expertise in housing acquisition and navigation services. Jennifer Friedenbach of the coalition described a broad vision developed from community outreach and said the oversight body should help make the system "turnkey ready" when funds are released.

The committee accepted Supervisor Brown's amendment and recommended the ordinance to the full Board as amended. The motion to recommend was made on the record and there was no objection recorded in the committee. The ordinance will advance to the Board of Supervisors for consideration.