Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Code For America Grant topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Budget committee advances $105,000 Code for America grant to speed benefit access
Summary
The Budget and Finance Committee voted without objection to send a resolution forward allowing the Department of Human Services to accept a $105,000 Code for America grant. The award funds three fellows who will work with city staff to prototype web-facing tools to connect eligible San Franciscans to benefits.
The Budget and Finance Committee on Tuesday advanced a resolution authorizing the Department of Human Services to retroactively accept and expend a $105,000 grant from Code for America to develop digital tools to help residents access public benefits.
Chair Carmen Chu opened the discussion and introduced Dave Curdo of HSA, who said Code for America will place three fellows with city staff to interview clients, map problems in benefit access and prototype web-based applications. “They will be coming and interviewing, working with our staff to take a look at the problems and the challenges we’re facing in accessing benefits,” Curdo said.
A budget analyst told the committee the $105,000 grant covers 29 percent of an estimated $360,000 project cost; the city would provide the remaining $255,000 in matching funds, including $75,000 from HSA general-fund revenues and $180,000 from the Department of Technology through work orders.
Supervisor Kim pressed Curdo on timing and scope, noting the budget report described the award as retroactive to October. Curdo said awards were announced in October, fellows are being selected now, and the research and prototyping work will begin at the end of this month. He characterized the project term as 15 months while acknowledging individual fellow involvement may finish earlier depending on follow-up work required.
Curdo said the principal problem the fellowship aims to address is low penetration of eligible residents into programs such as CalFresh and Medi-Cal. “It’s people don’t know that they’re eligible for benefits,” he said, adding that the effort ties into HSA’s broader “no wrong door” intake goal and ongoing coordination with the Department of Public Health.
Following public comment in favor, Supervisor Avalos moved to send the resolution to the full Board of Supervisors with the committee’s recommendation; the motion carried without objection.
The resolution will appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda on January 15 for final consideration.
