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Rules Committee appoints Delano Seymour to Local Homeless Coordinating Board after waiver of residency requirement
Summary
After three applicants testified, the Rules Committee unanimously waived a residency requirement and by consensus appointed Delano Seymour — a formerly homeless Tenderloin resident and community organizer — to seat 2 on the Local Homeless Coordinating Board; supervisors cited his lived experience and community support.
The Rules Committee considered candidates for one vacancy on the Local Homeless Coordinating Board. Applicants Dan Bowersox (housing manager at Homeless Prenatal Program), Delano (Del) Seymour (Tenderloin walking-tour operator and formerly homeless), and Gary Lewis (Executive Director, General Assistance Advocacy Project) presented their qualifications and priorities.
Dan Bowersox emphasized experience in program scoring and housing placements, saying he has helped more than 1,000 homeless families into permanent housing and noting federal funding pressures. Gary Lewis described five years of work on housing and benefits in the Tenderloin and his teaching on homelessness at Hastings.
Delano Seymour described long personal experience living in the Tenderloin and recovering from homelessness; he urged approaches that go beyond shelter—life-skill supports, hygiene, employment readiness, landlord incentives and a stronger partnership between property managers, tenants and the city. Supervisors asked about his current housing; Seymour said he is temporarily housed in VA housing in Fairfield and expects to return to San Francisco by November, and that he would request a residency waiver.
Supervisor Cohen and Supervisor Brie both expressed support for Seymour’s lived experience and the turnout of endorsers who testified in his favor. Supervisor Brie moved to waive the residency requirement; the committee approved the waiver unanimously. The committee then moved to appoint Delano Seymour to seat number 2 on the Local Homeless Coordinating Board; the motion passed by consensus.
