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Supervisors hold hearing linking housing insecurity to poor birth outcomes for BIPOC pregnant people
Summary
Physicians, city housing and homeless services officials, and community providers told the Land Use & Transportation Committee that housing instability and discrimination — including refusal to accept Section 8 vouchers — are major drivers of preterm birth and maternal harms among BIPOC pregnant people in San Francisco.
The Land Use and Transportation Committee held a public hearing April 11 examining how housing instability and discrimination contribute to poorer birth outcomes for Black, Indigenous and other people of color in San Francisco.
Chair Mirna Melgaard opened the hearing by citing city data showing stark racial disparities: Black mothers account for a disproportionately large share of maternal deaths and preterm births relative to their share of births. The committee heard clinical testimony, program summaries and community testimony that linked housing insecurity, shelter access and discrimination to elevated risks during pregnancy.
Dr. Nika Seidman, an OB‑GYN with Team Lily at San Francisco General, described daily clinical experience caring for pregnant people who are unsheltered or otherwise housing insecure. Team Lily serves roughly 50 pregnant people a year; staff said over 95% of their patients experience housing insecurity and 30–40% are unsheltered. Seidman said unsheltered pregnant patients face more than double the…
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