Board authorizes Department of Homelessness to solicit private donations; public commenters press for transparency on behested waivers

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution on June 23 authorizing the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (DHSH) executive director and delegated staff to solicit private donations to support expansion of temporary shelter and other homeless services "notwithstanding the behest of payment ordinance," the clerk said.

The item was presented as a rules committee report and taken by unanimous consent. The clerk described Item 11 as authorizing DHSH leadership and program directors to solicit donations "to support the expansion of temporary shelter and other homeless services," even where solicitation might otherwise be constrained.

During the public comment period several speakers urged more transparency about the city's use of private funds and recent behested payment waivers. Public commenter Leah McGieber said a Chronicle story noted $7 million in private funds used for supportive housing repairs and asked, "Where's the money from all of these behested payment waivers... Where's the transparency? Can we get more reporting on this? We need an explanation or an investigation." The clerk acknowledged the comment and recorded the speaker's request in the public comment record.

Other commenters raised related concerns: one speaker asked the board to "follow the money," another asked whether progressive priorities were being funded by private waivers, and several urged public accounting for donations solicited under behested waivers. The board did not take an on‑the‑record explanatory response to those demands during the meeting; the clerk closed public comment and proceeded to adopt the resolution.

What it means: the resolution gives DHSH delegated authority to solicit private contributions for shelter and related services, but it does not, on its face, change existing public‑disclosure requirements. Public commenters asked the board to produce more detailed reporting on how behested payment waivers are used and what private funds have been received; the transcript records those requests but no staff accounting or follow‑up date was provided during the meeting.

Next steps: Journalists and watchdogs seeking records should request the DHSH and the mayor’s office for any reports or disclosures tied to behested payment waivers; the board could be asked to place specific accounting or reporting requirements on future similar authorizations.