How SF government became a hulking, 34,800-person behemoth


<p>It’s a perennial complaint: San Francisco’s government is just too damn big.&nbsp;</p>



<p>That concern has come to the forefront in recent weeks after Mayor Daniel Lurie <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/05/28/san-francisco-mayor-daniel-lurie-budget-layoffs/">proposed layoffs</a> in an effort to resolve a <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/05/30/san-francisco-budget-daniel-lurie-deficit-proposal/">historic budget deficit</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Salaries and employee benefits account for the largest chunk of city spending: 43% of the current budget. A <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2025/sf-city-employees/">recent analysis</a> found that San Francisco has the most public employees in core functions of any U.S. metropolis, even after detangling its unusual status as both a city and county.</p>



<p>Our workforce wasn’t always such a behemoth. The Standard analyzed City Hall’s growth over the past 20 years, revealing that it has far outpaced San Francisco’s population.</p>



<p>In 2005, the city employed 26,900 people, according to the Department of Human Resources. Twenty years later, it had 34,800, a 29% increase. During that time, the city’s population grew by 8%, from 780,000 in 2005 to 842,000 in 2025, according to the <a href="https://dof.ca.gov/forecasting/demographics/estimates/">California Department of Finance</a>.&nbsp;</p>



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<p>The mayor’s push to cut around 100 jobs would represent a thin slice of the city’s ballooning bureaucracy — just 0.29% of City Hall’s workforce. Lurie’s office, which also proposed slashing 1,000 unfilled roles, says the mayor is not focused on the number of employees but on prudent spending practices.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“It is really about, ‘How do we not spend money we don&#8217;t have?’&#8221; Sophia Kittler, the mayor’s budget director, said. On Thursday, a Board of Supervisors committee <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/06/26/san-francisco-mayor-daniel-lurie-layoffs-negotiation-budget/">approved $15 million to avoid some</a> of Lurie&#8217;s layoffs. </p>



<p>The Standard contacted three dozen city departments to discuss why they have grown over the past two decades. Four major themes emerged: voter-approved ballot measures, new state and federal laws, and expanded city responsibilities and projects; additionally, as these factors swelled the ranks, more support personnel were needed to bolster the larger workforce.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-that-long-long-list-of-ballot-measures">That long, long list of ballot measures</h2>



<p>Successful ballot propositions have forced the city to beef up its staffing.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Take the <a href="https://www.sf.gov/reports--december-2024--about-our-city-our-home-fund">Our City, Our Home initiative</a>, which passed with 61% of the vote in 2018. The measure, also called Proposition C, imposed taxes on businesses to raise money for homelessness services. But raking in all that money requires more staff to administer it. From 2020 to 2025, the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing nearly doubled in size, from 124 to 232 workers; a spokesperson attributed this in part to Prop. C. The additional personnel were needed to acquire city-owned housing sites and oversee grants, among other responsibilities.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Or consider the library system. In 2022, San Franciscans overwhelmingly voted to mandate that city libraries be open systemwide at least 1,400 hours per week. Today, San Francisco remains the only big city in California with all its library sites open seven days a week. To keep the lights on, library staffing grew by 23% from 2005 to 2025.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-outside-pressures">Outside pressures</h2>



<p>It isn’t just local lawmaking that has inflated San Francisco’s government. State and federal legislation also play a role in dictating City Hall’s size.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Just look at the Department of Public Health. A driver of its addition of around 1,800 employees in the past 20 years — the most of any city department —&nbsp;was the federal Affordable Care Act. Obamacare vastly expanded the number of people eligible for Medi-Cal, whose healthcare is <a href="https://www.ppic.org/blog/counties-are-key-partners-in-the-medi-cal-program/">provided by the department</a>. Since 2013, the number of San Franciscans enrolled in Medi-Cal has grown by more than 100,000, forcing the health department to add staff.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>&#8216;It is really about, &#8220;How do we not spend money we don&#8217;t have?&#8221;&#8216;</p><cite>Sophia Kittler, the mayor’s budget director</cite></blockquote></figure>



<p>“As the primary safety-net health care system for the city, SFDPH has become the primary health home and has provided care to many of these new Medi-Cal recipients,” the department wrote in a statement.</p>



<p>That’s just the tip of the iceberg regarding staffing up to comply with outside regulations and programs. The Public Utilities Commission has brought on more staff due to new state water regulations, the city attorney’s office expanded to deal with updates to California’s conservatorship laws, and the Environment Department swelled as it absorbed Obama-era stimulus funding and California Energy Commission grants.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-services-more-staffers">More services, more staffers</h2>



<p>Many departments said they’re simply doing more to serve San Franciscans today than they were in years past.</p>



<p>The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency grew its staff by 11% in the past decade to improve service on city buses and trains, according to spokesperson Erica Kato. “Prior to 2019, we under-invested in transit maintenance, training, and supervision,” Kato said. “Muni reliability suffered.”&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>&#8216;We are just constantly growing. And not necessarily subtracting.&#8217;</p><cite>Nicole Neditch, a policy director at SF think tank SPUR</cite></blockquote></figure>



<p>Other government agencies have simply taken on more responsibilities.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The Department of Emergency Management, which has grown by 44% to 308 employees since 2005, became a sponsor for a <a href="https://www.bayareauasi.org/about-us">regional security program</a>, created a <a href="https://www.sf.gov/coordinated-street-response-program">coordinated street response division</a>, and is receiving 15.5% more 911 calls than it did in fiscal 2011-12, the earliest available data.</p>



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<p>The Fire Department has also been impacted by that 911 surge; it has staffed up to handle a near doubling of emergency services calls in the past 20 years, according to Chief of Staff Adrienne Sims.</p>



<p>The Recreation and Parks Department has also shouldered more responsibility as it has grown 11% to 952 workers from 856 two decades ago. During that period, the department added more parks to its purview, which required more staff to maintain. The department said the public has also asked for more staff to address vandalism and after-hours calls. That required hiring more park rangers: from 12 in 2005 to 55 today.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">More employees means … more employees</h2>



<p>As the workforce grows, so do the responsibilities of supporting agencies like the Ethics Department, which oversees financial disclosures and ethics enforcement of city employees. The department has 26 employees, representing a 160% increase since 2005.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The same goes for the Human Resources Department, which has grown by 53% (89 employees) since 2005.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Once you introduce new legislation, once you add a new department, once you add staff to a particular program, it is very difficult to take those pieces away,” said Nicole Neditch, a governance and economy policy director at the SF-based think tank SPUR. “We are just constantly growing. And not necessarily subtracting.”</p>


SF nonprofits brace for bloodbath as Lurie slashes grant funding


<p>When she first came to San Francisco roughly a decade ago, Ermei Wu landed a job in a Chinatown restaurant to support her three kids. Like many monolingual immigrants, she didn’t have anyone explaining wage laws to her in the language she speaks, Cantonese.&nbsp;</p>



<p>She never knew to challenge her boss for what she later discovered was wage theft, until she joined the Chinese Progressive Association’s program, the Workers Rights Community Collaborative. </p>



<p>“I knew I had rights as a worker, that I had paid sick leave, that there was minimum wage, that there was overtime,” Wu said through a translator. She pays it forward: “I tell all the people around me about what rights they have as a worker.”</p>



<p>In her next restaurant job, Wu was paid what she was owed. Last year, however, the Office of Labor and Standards Enforcement scaled back the workers&#8217; rights program by nearly $400,000, roughly half its budget. This year, the program is set to lose the other half and shutter entirely.</p>



<p>It&#8217;s not the only one. The pot of money funding San Francisco’s legion of do-good organizations is about to shrink.</p>



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<p>Mayor Daniel Lurie’s <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/05/30/san-francisco-budget-daniel-lurie-deficit-proposal/">budget would cut</a> roughly $154 million, or 9%, from the city’s grant programming next year, according to an analysis by The Standard.</p>



<p>Nonprofits are waiting in the dark to find out what will happen to their finances, as the mayor’s budget doesn’t contain line-item details to easily discern contract cuts. The Standard’s analysis offers a first view at just how devastating those trims will be.</p>



<p>Joe Wilson, executive director of the nonprofit Hospitality House, said Lurie’s proposal to gut grant funding may have disturbing consequences. Lurie has repeatedly pressed on the need for public safety, but when nonprofits providing food, shelter, and jobs are cut, people get desperate.</p>



<p>In Lurie’s budget proposal, Hospitality House lost funding from the Office of Economic and Workforce Development that pays for a program on Treasure Island to help 500 job seekers, Wilson said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“When there are fewer community-based health options, fewer community-based employment options, fewer community-based housing options, the city pays that cost, and it&#8217;s much more costly than the investments we&#8217;re already making,” Wilson said.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1668" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20240126_homelesscountwewent_-2399_28da2458-c16a-11ee-bc93-fad3dbc5ec97.jpg?w=2500" alt="Three people stand on a dimly lit street corner at night. One person has a bicycle. They are next to a blue building with bags and a bucket nearby." class="wp-image-406800" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20240126_homelesscountwewent_-2399_28da2458-c16a-11ee-bc93-fad3dbc5ec97.jpg 3000w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20240126_homelesscountwewent_-2399_28da2458-c16a-11ee-bc93-fad3dbc5ec97.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20240126_homelesscountwewent_-2399_28da2458-c16a-11ee-bc93-fad3dbc5ec97.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20240126_homelesscountwewent_-2399_28da2458-c16a-11ee-bc93-fad3dbc5ec97.jpg?resize=2500,1668 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20240126_homelesscountwewent_-2399_28da2458-c16a-11ee-bc93-fad3dbc5ec97.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20240126_homelesscountwewent_-2399_28da2458-c16a-11ee-bc93-fad3dbc5ec97.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Grant funding for nonprofit work, including from the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, will drop next year.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Lurie has repeatedly characterized the city’s spending as excessive, saying San Francisco must make structural cuts to resolve a staggering $782 million deficit. In his budget plan, public safety agencies like the San Francisco Police Department and district attorney’s office maintained their budgets.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The Standard’s analysis found:&nbsp;</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Funding to the City Grant Program, a primary funding pool for nonprofits, will decrease next year for 17 of the 24 departments that have that as a budget line item.</li>



<li>Three departments are losing all grant program funding: the Department on the Status of Women, Building Inspection, and Elections.</li>



<li>The Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing is facing the biggest reduction to its grant program, $83.5 million, though a portion of that is due to Our City, Our Home funding, which will be spent over five years, but was only reflected in last year’s budget.&nbsp;</li>



<li>At No. 2 is Economic and Workforce Development, which will lose $58.6 million. A portion of that is the movement of some major contracts to another department.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



<p>Some of the department-level reductions are straight-up cuts by Lurie. But in some cases, grants moved from one department to another. In others, the grant reductions are because federal or state funds dried up. During previous years, the city elected to shore up the loss of some state funding with local funding, but in this climate, that generosity is hard to find.</p>



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<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Some nonprofit contracts fall under &#8220;non-personnel services,&#8221; a spending category for facilities management, insurance fees, and other expenditures. Non-personnel services spending will increase next year by 2%, or $69 million.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Twenty-five departments will get reductions in non-personnel services. Those include Juvenile Probation (a 75% cut), Ethics Commission (46%), Sheriff’s Department (24%), Public Works (36%), and Human Rights Commission (40%).</li>
</ul>



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<p>In <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/23/daniel-lurie-san-francisco-mayor-budget-cuts/">a January memo</a> to city department heads, Lurie directed them to cut grants from the “least effective” organizations. But Sarah Wan, director of the Community Youth Center, said even outcomes that are difficult to measure can have real impacts.&nbsp;</p>



<p>CYC started its Bayview Services program in 2011. It provides connections to city and neighborhood services for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in the Bayview but also offers bridge-building programs between Black and Asian neighbors, such as joint Lunar New Year and Black History Month celebrations, local history bus tours, and translators to help bridge the divide.&nbsp;</p>



<p>CYC is facing a $1.5 million budget reduction. The Bayview CYC location may shutter.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“It took us like 15 years to do that, to build that partnership,” she said. “I think we definitely helped build bridges across communities. It&#8217;s how to ensure everyone feels safe.”</p>



<p>A full accounting of how many organizations would be affected by the mayor’s budget is not available, as it contains only top-line numbers, not the line-item detail necessary to discern what programs may be axed. The People’s Budget coalition, a collective of more than 150 organizations, rallied Wednesday at City Hall to protest the coming cuts.</p>



<p>Despite the unknowns, one thing is certain: Nonprofits are expecting a bloodbath.</p>


San Francisco sues HUD over ‘illegal’ funding demands


<p>San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu and seven other plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in federal court Friday challenging the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.</p>



<p>In March, HUD <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/19/trump-holds-housing-funds-hostage-over-dei/">sent out contracts to housing and service providers nationwide</a> that said their federal funding would be terminated if they were found to be engaging in any activities that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, “gender ideology,” elective abortions, and “sanctuary” immigration policies. </p>



<p>The contract was subsequently amended to remove any mentions of &#8220;DEI&#8221; or &#8220;sanctuary&#8221; after a slew of the president&#8217;s executive orders were challenged in courts across the country. </p>



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<p>&#8220;These new grant conditions blatantly violate the Constitution and endanger people’s lives,&#8221; Chiu said in a statement. &#8220;This is part of Trump’s strategy to push his ideology by threatening local programs and budgets. We will continue to oppose these efforts and stand up in court for San Francisco&#8217;s values, funding, and communities.&#8221;</p>



<p>According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.org/data-tools/federal-housing-funding-tracker">federal spending data,</a>&nbsp;HUD has about $644 million in active housing grants in San Francisco. Additionally, the city is set to receive $56 million this year for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hud.gov/sites/default/files/CPD/documents/CoC/CoC-2024-ALL-Press.pdf">35 homelessness assistance projects</a>&nbsp;under HUD’s Continuum of Care program, an annual grant since 1994.</p>



<p>These funds are meant to help organizations that assist vulnerable populations in achieving long-term housing stability.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For example, in the current round of approved CoC grants, the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corp. was awarded $1.1 million for the construction of a 70-unit affordable housing project at 180 Jones St., among other projects. </p>



<p>Other grantees include organizations assisting victims of domestic abuse, LGBTQ+ youth, and sober living for people recovering from addictions.</p>



<p>The federal grants are routed through the city&#8217;s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, which then reimburses grantees for approved expenses. </p>



<p>Whistleblowers at HUD previously&nbsp;<a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/21/hud-staff-cuts-homeless-funding-san-francisco/">told The Standard</a>&nbsp;that staffing cuts at the agency — spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency earlier this year — mean the local office would be ill-equipped to manage the transfer of the funds to the city even if they are paid out.</p>



<p>Said one: “There will be no one left to run the programs.”&nbsp;</p>



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<p>With federal grants stalled, experts have repeatedly warned that San Francisco&#8217;s <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/17/trump-hud-cuts-threaten-san-francisco-affordable-housing/">housing and homelessness issues will worsen</a> as a result. </p>



<p>A spokesperson for the San Francisco Housing Authority, which provides vouchers for about 13,000 units and owns public housing in Potrero Hill and Visitacion Valley, said the agency relies on HUD for 96% of its funding.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Last month, officials at the San Francisco Unified School District <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/11/sfusd-americorps-lawsuit/">sued to block a similar attempt</a> by the Trump Administration to impose conditions on AmeriCorps funding, which runs volunteer service programs to help disadvantaged communities.   A court temporarily blocked those conditions from going into effect as the case continues. </p>


Trump tries to hold HUD grants hostage over DEI and immigration demands


<p>Last week, as housing nonprofits awaited promised federal grants — <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/17/trump-hud-cuts-threaten-san-francisco-affordable-housing/">held up since President Donald Trump took office</a> — a vague but harsh contract was sent from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Based on a slew of the president’s executive orders, the agreement specifically prohibits funds from being used on any activities that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion; “gender ideology”; elective abortions; and “sanctuary” immigration policies.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Even though HUD had <a href="https://www.hud.gov/sites/default/files/CPD/documents/CoC/CoC-2024-ALL-Press.pdf">already set aside $3.6 billion</a> of aid to organizations it vetted last year, the message was clear: If you are involved in those activities, your contract will be terminated.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Providers serving transgender women, LGBTQ youth, and <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/06/14/san-francisco-vehicular-homeless-vanlords/">families with undocumented immigrants</a>, among others, would be targeted.&nbsp;</p>



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<p>A lawsuit <a href="https://democracyforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/NADOHE-et-al-Anti-DEIA-EO-Challenge.pdf">challenging the “anti-DEI” executive orders</a> argues that they are not only an unlawful overreach of power but are too vague and arbitrary to enforce.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A Feb. 21 District Court ruling temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s ability to enforce the orders, but an appeal reversed that decision last week. Attorneys from Asian Americans Advancing Justice, who are representing the plaintiffs against the federal government, said they are prepared to challenge the orders up to the Supreme Court.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>“The ‘Yes you can, no you can’t’ back and forth is creating a massive interpretation problem,” said Geoff Green, CEO of CalNonprofits, an advocacy organization representing the nonprofit network across the state. “Nonprofits are businesses as well, and whenever revenue comes into question, important work is going to stop.”&nbsp;</p>



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<p>According to <a href="https://www.urban.org/data-tools/federal-housing-funding-tracker">federal spending data,</a> HUD has about $644 million in active housing grants in San Francisco. </p>



<p>Of that, the city is set to receive $56 million this year for <a href="https://www.hud.gov/sites/default/files/CPD/documents/CoC/CoC-2024-ALL-Press.pdf">35 homelessness assistance projects</a> under HUD’s Continuum of Care program, an annual grant since 1994. The funds are meant to help organizations that assist vulnerable populations in achieving long-term housing stability.&nbsp;</p>



<p>San Francisco’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing confirmed that it has not received this money or any update on the timing of its arrival.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>Amid the uncertainty surrounding the legality of Trump’s executive orders, HUD abruptly rescinded its latest CoC contract Friday, but the damage had already been done, according to&nbsp; Sen. Adam Schiff, who is leading the Democratic Party&#8217;s effort to block the administration’s anti- DEI and trans language from future CoC agreements.</p>



<p>“You have a responsibility to ensure that federal housing policies are guided by evidence-based practices — not by ideological efforts that exclude certain populations from receiving life-saving and life-changing assistance,” Schiff wrote in a letter to HUD Secretary Scott Turner, asking for the federal agency to release the funding immediately.&nbsp;</p>



<p>HUD did not respond to a request for comment. On Wednesday, the department released an amended version of the contract which did not mention “DEI” or “sanctuary” immigration policies.</p>



<p>The new contract, did however, prohibited the promotion of “gender ideology,” elective abortions, or the protection of illegal aliens.</p>



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<p>The San Francisco city attorney’s office is&nbsp; “aware of and monitoring” the situation, according to a spokesperson, and is working with the mayor’s office and other departments to evaluate legal options for programs affected by Trump’s executive orders.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Jennifer Dolin, CEO of the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corp., said the housing nonprofit is “deeply concerned about any changes to HUD that could undermine our ability to provide stable housing for formerly unhoused individuals and families.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>In the current round of approved CoC grants, Dolin’s group was awarded $1.1 million for the construction of a 70-unit affordable housing project at 180 Jones St., among other projects. Federal funds are routed through the Homelessness Department, which then reimburses grantees for approved expenses.</p>



<p>“For many, an affordable home at TNDC is the difference between housing and homelessness,” Dolin said. “We urge policymakers to protect these vital resources.&#8221;</p>


Trump’s cuts are poised to make San Francisco’s homeless problem even worse


<p>Affordable apartments for retired seniors and veterans. Safe shelter for victims of abuse. Sober living for recovering addicts.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These often unheralded programs aren’t ending homelessness on their own, but they are important to stemming the flow of people who may end up on the streets.&nbsp;</p>



<p>And a major lifeline for these initiatives is beginning to sputter and could soon go dark.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>By slashing the workforce of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Trump administration has put billions in funding at risk, which means one of the few financial weapons San Francisco has to attack its housing crisis has been crippled.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to <a href="https://www.urban.org/data-tools/federal-housing-funding-tracker">federal spending data,</a> HUD has about $644 million in active housing grants in San Francisco. </p>



<p>Of that, the city is set to receive $56 million this year for <a href="https://www.hud.gov/sites/default/files/CPD/documents/CoC/CoC-2024-ALL-Press.pdf">35 homelessness assistance projects</a> under HUD’s Continuum of Care program, an annual grant since 1994. The funds are meant to help organizations that assist vulnerable populations in achieving long-term housing stability.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2001" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20242806_scotushomeless-01-edited.jpg?w=2000" alt="Two people are sleeping on a sidewalk, wrapped in blankets, in front of a storefront with a &quot;City Kids&quot; sign and colorful posters inside." class="wp-image-360111" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20242806_scotushomeless-01-edited.jpg 2000w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20242806_scotushomeless-01-edited.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20242806_scotushomeless-01-edited.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20242806_scotushomeless-01-edited.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20242806_scotushomeless-01-edited.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20242806_scotushomeless-01-edited.jpg?resize=180,180 180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">San Franciscans sleep on the sidewalk during the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing’s point-in-time count last year.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Affordable housing operators and nonprofit service providers create their budgets based on this bucket of aid, which can be used to acquire or rehabilitate real estate, cover operating costs, and provide rental assistance directly to residents. Among other recipients, the funds were earmarked for the construction of a 70-unit affordable housing project at 180 Jones St. and the conversion of a building at 42 Otis St. to supportive housing for young adults.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>But despite approval for the grant in January, San Francisco’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing — which distributes the money — said it has yet to receive notification from the feds about when the funds might come, if they’ll be reduced, or if they’ll be nixed altogether.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Whistleblowers at HUD previously <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/21/hud-staff-cuts-homeless-funding-san-francisco/">told The Standard</a> that even if the money does arrive, the staffing cuts at the agency mean the local office would be ill-equipped to manage the transfer of the funds to the city. Said one: “There will be no one left to run the programs.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>In an email sent this week, an HSH manager told 20 grantees it could only pay 75% of their allotted amounts because of uncertainty surrounding federal funding. The funds are used to reimburse service providers for their work.&nbsp;</p>



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<p>HUD did not respond to a request for comment about the status of its housing grants.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The subsidies earmarked for San Francisco are part of the budget proposal <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/11/us/politics/house-stopgap-funding-bill-vote-government-shutdown.html">recently passed by the House of Representatives</a>, which called for keeping government spending largely flat from the year prior. The Senate <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/us/politics/senate-vote-shutdown.html">passed the stopgap measure Friday</a>. </p>



<p>“These programs provide existing residents with stable housing,” said Rebecca Foster, CEO of Housing Accelerator Fund, a nonprofit that <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/07/26/bay-area-housing-group-solves-affordable-homes-math/">provides loans and consulting services</a> for developers of affordable housing. “If that stability comes into question for millions of individuals, then the housing crisis exponentially balloons.”</p>



<p>A spokesperson for the San Francisco Housing Authority, which provides vouchers for about 13,000 units and owns public housing in Potrero Hill and Visitacion Valley, said the agency relies on HUD for 96% of its funding.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-will-fill-the-void"><strong>Who will fill the void?</strong></h2>



<p>As local agencies and nonprofits anxiously wait to learn if their grants will come through, they are tracking the cancellation of <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-11/doge-cuts-contracts-to-affordable-housing-groups-who-mention-dei-words">HUD contracts </a>for affordable housing in other states as part of the Trump administration’s purge of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Since assuming his position last month, HUD Secretary Scott Turner has boasted about rooting out DEI from the agency and has <a href="https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/hud_no_25_032">aligned himself</a> with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Let&#39;s set the record straight. <a href="https://t.co/ZhQFfaWJK6">pic.twitter.com/ZhQFfaWJK6</a></p>&mdash; Scott Turner (@SecretaryTurner) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecretaryTurner/status/1900006223497290148?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>“Once again, let me be clear, DEI is dead at HUD,” Turner said Tuesday in a statement on a disaster relief plan submitted by Asheville, North Carolina, after Hurricane Helene. “We will not provide funding to any program or grantee that does not comply with President Trump’s executive orders.”</p>



<p>Some fear that criteria will be used as a bludgeon against San Francisco. “There’s not a single nonprofit in the city that doesn’t have something that would trigger these [DEI-motivated] cuts,” said Laura Foote, executive director at YIMBY Action.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It’s not a misplaced fear. According to public records, HSH has operated several programs that could be categorized under the DEI umbrella, including the Trauma Informed Systems Initiative and <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/Uprooting-a-cause-of-homelessness-racism-13462028.php">Supporting Partnerships for Anti-Racist Communities Research</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1666" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/gettyimages-1173647209.jpg?w=2500" alt="Two men in suits are shaking hands on a stage with a U.S. flag beside them, one in a blue suit and red tie, and the other in a black suit." class="wp-image-377757" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/gettyimages-1173647209.jpg 3745w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/gettyimages-1173647209.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/gettyimages-1173647209.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/gettyimages-1173647209.jpg?resize=2500,1666 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/gettyimages-1173647209.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/gettyimages-1173647209.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">President Donald Trump nominated Scott Turner, a former NFL player and Texas state lawmaker, to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Foote added that finding financing for new affordable housing development will only get tougher as lenders watch existing projects struggle to operate without federal aid.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Foster notes that reducing uncertainty is key to motivating investors for affordable housing development. “The underlying programs that supported large portions of our [affordable housing] ecosystem were never in question before,” she said. “Now it seems like all bets are off.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>If the federal government is bowing out, it is incumbent on the state government to step up and fill the void, Foster contends. In the last 10 or more years, lawmakers in Sacramento have <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/16/yimby-winning-san-francisco-housing-war/">embraced rezoning and permitting reform</a> but have <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/03/05/california-election-proposition-1/">faced a steeper challenge</a> convincing voters of the need to borrow money or raise taxes for programs.</p>



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<p>San Franciscans, for their part, <a href="https://www.sf.gov/reports/april-2024/affordable-housing-general-obligation-bond-reports#:~:text=In%20November%202015%2C%20over%2074,low%20and%20middle%20income%20households.">approved three housing bonds</a> during the last decade and last year <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/03/05/san-francisco-prop-a-election-results-affordable-housing/">passed a $300 million spending package</a> with a supermajority.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, a $20 billion affordable bond shared among the Bay Area’s nine counties <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/08/14/bahfa-bond-yanked-at-last-minute/">fell apart before reaching voters</a>, and a subsequent measure meant to make it easier to pass future bonds was <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/11/12/affordable-housing-and-infrastructure-reform-rejected/">defeated in November</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Assemblymember Alex Lee, who represents portions of San Jose and Fremont, says the state’s fluctuating budget — going<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/06/23/gavin-newsom-california-budget-deficit-deal/"> from a $100 billion surplus to a $50 billion deficit</a> in two years — is a reason enthusiasm for housing bonds has dipped.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1667" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/gettyimages-2203142212.jpg?w=2500" alt="People are gathered holding protest signs that read &quot;Hands Off Housing.&quot; They stand in front of a building, expressing a unified message." class="wp-image-377758" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/gettyimages-2203142212.jpg 5341w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/gettyimages-2203142212.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/gettyimages-2203142212.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/gettyimages-2203142212.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/gettyimages-2203142212.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/gettyimages-2203142212.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A protest outside the HUD office March 3 in Washington.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Now, with yet <a href="https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/01/gavin-newsom-2025-california-budget/">another projected surplus</a> and a slate of new lawmakers joining both chambers, Lee hopes for renewed vigor in Sacramento on affordable housing. “I think people understand that we need to do a lot today, even if it’s a high-cost, high-stress environment,” he said. “It’s not going to get any easier if we wait.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>This year, Lee will make his fifth attempt at creating a <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/04/09/alex-lee-leads-social-housing-california/">statewide public housing development agency</a>, pairing it with <a href="https://a24.asmdc.org/press-releases/20250213-assemblymember-alex-lee-introduces-social-housing-bond">a $950 million bond measure</a> to finance its activities. Other bills include <a href="https://a14.asmdc.org/press-releases/20250218-asm-wicks-and-sen-cabaldon-move-forward-tackle-crushing-housing-costs">a $10 billion statewide affordable housing bond </a>introduced by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks of Oakland and <a href="https://sd11.senate.ca.gov/news/senator-wiener-introduces-legislation-boost-production-workforce-housing">a welfare tax exemption</a> by Sen. Scott Wiener for homes built for moderate-income households, up to 120% of area median income.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“With the gutting of the federal government, it’s refocused a lot of people on making sure that California is a beacon for the world,” Wiener said. “It’s incumbent on us to show that the government can work.”</p>


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SF Public Health director who led city through Covid is stepping down


<p>San Francisco’s top public health official is stepping down, ending six years of leadership through twin crises: the Covid pandemic and the fentanyl epidemic.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Dr. Grant Colfax said Thursday that he will step down Feb. 7 as director of the Department of Public Health.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Colfax is the latest department head to announce his departure since Mayor Daniel Lurie took office; Jeffrey Tumlin is exiting as director of the Municipal Transportation Authority.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Dr. Naveena Bobba, deputy director of Public Health, will serve as acting director until Lurie appoints Colfax’s replacement.</p>



<p>In an email to Public Health employees seen by The Standard, Colfax described his time as director as “the honor of a lifetime.”</p>



<p>“I am grateful to all of you for our contributions that have resulted in nothing less than a transformed and innovative health department that is ready to meet the needs of generations to come,” he wrote.</p>



<p>Perhaps the greatest test of any public health department, the Covid pandemic saw Colfax enacting policies alongside Mayor London Breed to save lives in San Francisco. Within the first year of the pandemic, <a href="https://www.sf.gov/news/sf-celebrates-one-year-anniversary-first-covid-19-vaccine-80-fully-vaccinated">the mayor’s office announced</a> that 80% of San Franciscans had been vaccinated against the novel virus. The success drew national accolades, and in 2022, <a href="https://sfbaytimes.com/dr-grant-colfax-on-his-life-work-and-applying-lessons-learned-from-hiv-aids-to-covid-19/">the San Francisco Bay Times hailed Colfax</a> as a “public health warrior.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>“From our city’s COVID response, to saving Laguna Honda hospital, to expanding primary care and treatment for substance use disorders, Dr. Colfax has led with a data driven, community-centered focus that benefits all San Franciscans,” said Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi in a statement. </p>



<p>The city’s latest public health crisis drew far less rosy headlines, with fentanyl overdoses climbing to record highs amid a national opioid epidemic. The battle against fentanyl has reshaped many city agencies, from the district attorney’s office to the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing.</p>



<p>In his inaugural speech last week, Lurie pledged new strategies in tackling fentanyl. Colfax’s departure will allow the mayor to try a different public health approach if he chooses.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As director of the Department of Public Health, Colfax oversees roughly 8,000 employees and facilities like Laguna Honda Hospital.</p>



<p>Colfax has spent decades in the public health sector. He came out as gay during the AIDS crisis, when many men in his community faced persecution and fear as the epidemic spread. He joined the San Francisco Department of Public Health in 1997 to research and implement HIV prevention. In 2012, he joined the administration of President Barack Obama as director of the Office of National AIDS Policy, applying his work in San Francisco to the rest of the nation.</p>



<p>Last year, the HIV rate in San Francisco was the lowest in decades.</p>



<p>“Together, and in partnership with community, we improved outcomes for both individuals and populations,” Colfax wrote in his letter to employees. “Public health work is grounded in science, data, and facts, but it is delivered through compassion and caring for others.”</p>


‘Rampages,’ overdoses, suicide attempts: Incidents at homeless shelters double in 2 years


<p>When Sandra Rodrigues returned to her San Francisco homeless shelter on Saturday evening, she was greeted by an unnerving surprise. Blood was spattered in the lobby, and police tape blocked the entrance to the three-story building, where <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/05/homeless-shelter-shooting-san-francisco/">a man had been shot</a> four times in the stomach.<br><br>Up to that point, the four months she spent living at the St. Vincent de Paul Society’s Multi-Service Center South — which bills itself as the city&#8217;s largest and most extensive homeless shelter, at 525 Fifth St. — had been positive, she said. But suddenly, she was afraid for her safety. </p>



<p>She wondered whether any of her friends at the facility, or the social workers she&#8217;d come to rely upon, were injured or dead.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A suspect was promptly arrested in the shooting, with police taking a 29-year-old man named <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/09/man-charged-with-attempted-murder-in-homeless-shelter-shooting/">Taylor Reed</a> into custody that same evening. Reed is now facing attempted murder and other charges.</p>



<p>The condition of the victim, who was a shelter occupant, has stabilized since being hospitalized last weekend with injuries authorities described as life-threatening, according to court documents.</p>



<p>“It&#8217;s a traumatizing thing to have happen where you live,” Rodrigues said. “It was scary.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2500" height="2407" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0279.jpg?w=2500" alt="People stand in line outside a building labeled &quot;St. Vincent de Paul Society&quot; with signs reading &quot;ARE IN TOG HE...&quot; and &quot;BE SAFE!!!&quot; under a red awning." class="wp-image-353177" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0279.jpg 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0279.jpg?resize=300,289 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0279.jpg?resize=768,739 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0279.jpg?resize=1536,1479 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0279.jpg?resize=2048,1972 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A line outside the St. Vincent de Paul Society’s Multi-Service Center South on Wednesday.</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="2500" width="2075" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0138.jpg?w=2075" alt="People are standing in line outside a building on a sidewalk. Some are dressed warmly, with hoods and jackets. One person holds a shopping bag." class="wp-image-353175" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0138.jpg 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0138.jpg?resize=249,300 249w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0138.jpg?resize=768,925 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0138.jpg?resize=2075,2500 2075w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0138.jpg?resize=1275,1536 1275w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0138.jpg?resize=1700,2048 1700w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2075px) 100vw, 2075px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The wait to get into the sprawling Fifth Street homeless shelter.</figcaption></figure>



<p>While Rodrigues and others at the facility say Saturday’s shooting was an anomaly, critical incidents reported within the city’s shelter system have more than doubled over the past two years, according to data from the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing obtained by The Standard through a public records request.</p>



<p>The city’s 33 shelters saw an average of 9.5 incidents per day in 2024, data show — up from 4.2 in 2022.&nbsp;The incidents range from &#8220;rampages&#8221; to overdoses and mental health emergencies, showing the challenges faced by workers and clients of the safety-net facilities.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“At around 5:13 a.m. [a client] began to be disruptive, aggressive, and uncontrollable,” one incident report reads, describing a client who was kicked out at the Next Door Shelter at 1001 Polk St.&nbsp;&#8220;This behavior escalated into antagonizing other guests and throwing things around &#8230; Disruptive behavior continued for more than an hour with such intensity.&#8221;</p>



<p>“[A client] was sucker punched by another guest,” another report from Next Door states. “The alleged assailant had already fled after the incident and never returned.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>Last year’s homeless census — a limited point-in-time survey of the city’s unsheltered population — <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/08/16/mental-illness-rates-skyrocket-among-sfs-homeless-population/">found a 15% increase in mental illness and a 20% rise in serious health conditions</a> among San Francisco&#8217;s unhoused between 2022 and 2024. </p>



<p>Some experts say the uptick is tied to the length of time people remain homeless. The share of people who have been unhoused for more than a year in San Francisco rose 27% during that same two-year period.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Shelter staffers who spoke to The Standard under the condition of anonymity said they’re not equipped to treat physical and mental health conditions in their facilities. There have been 67 suicide attempts in the city’s shelters since 2018, according to the reports.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Every day there’s someone that goes into an ambulance,” one worker said. “The services we offer here are extremely limited.”&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="2500" width="1880" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0221.jpg?w=1880" alt="A man wearing a black hoodie and beanie stands against a blue wall, holding a cane. Sunlight highlights his face as he looks directly ahead." class="wp-image-353176" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0221.jpg 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0221.jpg?resize=226,300 226w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0221.jpg?resize=768,1021 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0221.jpg?resize=1880,2500 1880w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0221.jpg?resize=1155,1536 1155w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0221.jpg?resize=1540,2048 1540w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1880px) 100vw, 1880px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ray Mackey, 52, who has lived at the shelter since Thanksgiving, says he witnessed the shooting over the weekend.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Ray Mackey, who has stayed at the MSC-South shelter since Thanksgiving, said he was in the lobby Saturday when the shooting took place. He said he watched the victim crawl away, and has since experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.</p>



<p>“What concerned us is they didn’t have a check-in to make sure we’re OK,” Mackey said. “And some of us aren’t.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>The city&#8217;s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing said medical and behavioral health emergencies are the main drivers of the rise in incident reports. There was also a change in the scope of situations that shelter staff are required to report, which the department attributes to a 4.85% increase. </p>



<p>In response to the more frequent emergencies, the department said it has increased investments in behavioral health services and case management.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“This speaks to the vulnerability of the community we serve in shelter,” the department said in an emailed statement. “The city of San Francisco prioritizes the safety and well-being of its nonprofit staff and guests through a comprehensive approach that includes specialized de-escalation training for staff, security measures and protocols and onsite behavioral health services.”</p>



<p>Patrick Schmalz, CEO of the St. Vincent De Paul Society, said the shelter has activated an emergency plan since the shooting. He said case managers conduct daily mental health checks with clients, and that the shelter provides rotating health, legal, immigration, and career clinics.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2500" height="1992" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0388.jpg?w=2500" alt="A sign on a window instructs guests to empty bags and clear a metal detector before entering. It states, &quot;No search—No entry. No exceptions!&quot; Decor features a small fox." class="wp-image-353180" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0388.jpg 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0388.jpg?resize=300,239 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0388.jpg?resize=768,612 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0388.jpg?resize=1536,1224 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0388.jpg?resize=2048,1632 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A notice posted at the Next Door shelter at 1001 Polk St.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lurie-s-dilemma-nbsp">Lurie’s dilemma&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The increasing crises at the city’s shelters pose a predicament for Mayor Daniel Lurie, whose top campaign promise was to build 1,500 shelter beds in the first six months of his administration.&nbsp;</p>



<p>With hundreds of people on the waitlist at a given time for a place to sleep, there&#8217;s a dire need for shelter in San Francisco. However, some providers and advocates wonder if a shelter-first approach will lengthen the time people spend homeless.</p>



<p>Furthermore, to achieve Lurie’s goal, city workers will need to convince homeless people that the facilities are a safe place to stay. The new mayor may also face pushback from housed San Franciscans who are unwilling to welcome shelters into their neighborhoods.</p>



<p>Steve Good, CEO of the nonprofit Five Keys, is no stranger to how forceful opposition can slow the opening of shelters. In 2019, Good’s nonprofit embarked on an effort to build a 200-bed navigation center on the Embarcadero. The development was plagued by lawsuits, petitions, and protests from neighbors, but it eventually opened that year.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1301" height="1301" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0288-edited.jpg" alt="A city street scene shows people sitting amidst belongings like bags and carts. There's a hotel sign in the background under a cloudy sky." class="wp-image-353184" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0288-edited.jpg 1301w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0288-edited.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0288-edited.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0288-edited.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0288-edited.jpg?resize=180,180 180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1301px) 100vw, 1301px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">People sit with their belongings Wednesday on the corner of Polk and Post streets.</figcaption></figure>



<p>“[The city] does a really good job of trying to involve the community,” Good said. “And there&#8217;s still a huge opposition. It’s a real thing, and it&#8217;s a problem.”</p>



<p>The Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing said shelter staff reporting more incidents inside the shelters doesn&#8217;t necessarily mean there&#8217;s more crime happening outside the facilities. To underscore that point, the city provided data showing there has been a decrease in crime around the Embarcadero SAFE Navigation Center since its opening.</p>



<p>“That said, we also know that a concentration of homeless service sites can impact a local community,&#8221; the department said. &#8220;Because of this, HSH has developed a robust process for working with local neighborhoods when we open new shelters.”</p>



<p>It’s unclear whether Lurie’s plan to <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/10/11/san-francisco-trash-mayor-recology-garbage-bin/">expedite the building of shelters</a> will leave time for this neighborhood outreach. His team didn’t respond to requests for comment.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2500" height="1666" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0396.jpg?w=2500" alt="People are gathered outside a building at 1001 Polk St. One rides a bike holding a bag, two are talking, and another sits playing guitar. A person is seen inside." class="wp-image-353181" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0396.jpg 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0396.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0396.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0396.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_shelter_0396.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">People sit outside the Next Door shelter.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Lurie’s plan also comes at a time of financial uncertainty. As the city grapples with a roughly $876 million budget deficit next year, many homeless people and their advocates say they hope Lurie’s ambitious shelter timeline won’t come at the expense of quality services.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“The mayor should invest in the shelters that are here now,” Rodrigues said. “They don&#8217;t give us pillows.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>Joe Wilson, executive director of Hospitality House, a nonprofit providing job support, food, and beds, said he worries that over-investment in shelters could come at the expense of more lasting solutions, and potentially make things worse.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Failure to make necessary investments in more permanent solutions beyond emergency shelter has immediate consequences, including on our mental health system,” he said. “The longer people are out on the street, the longer nonprofit staff have to labor valiantly with fewer resources than are needed to effectively address this problem.”</p>


The year’s biggest political fumbles

Asian Art Museum

Office of the City Administrator

Adult Probation Department

Airport

Arts Commission

Office of the Assessor-Recorder

Board of Appeals

Office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors

Office of the City Attorney

Department of Children, Youth and Their Families

Controller's Office

Planning Department

Civil Service Commission

District Attorney's Office

Department of Building Inspection

Department of Early Childhood

Department of Emergency Management

Department of Police Accountability

Department of Public Health

Department of Public Works

Office of Economic and Workforce Development

Environment Department

Ethics Commission

Fine Arts Museums

Fire Department

Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing

Human Rights Commission

Department of Human Resources

Human Services Agency

Health Service System

Juvenile Probation Department

Public Library

Municipal Transportation Agency

Office of the Mayor

Public Defender's Office

Police Department

Port

Public Utilities Commission

Recreation and Park Department

Department of Elections

Retirement System

Rent Board

Sheriff's Department Office of Inspector General

Sheriff's Department

Department of Technology

Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector

War Memorial

Department on the Status of Women

General City Responsibilities

General Administration & Finance

Culture & Recreation

Community Health

Human Welfare & Neighborhood Development

Public Works, Transportation & Commerce

Public Protection

SF Civil Grand Jury

The Abatement Appeals Board provides a final review process for City permitting decisions. It ensures fair and efficient adjudication of permit-related disputes before an impartial panel. The board holds authority to make binding decisions on appeals concerning notices of abatement.

Abatement Appeals Board

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 1

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 2

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 3

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 4

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 5

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 6

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 7

The Access Appeals Commission provides final reviews for a wide range of City permitting decisions. It ensures an efficient, fair, and expeditious permit issuance process through an impartial panel. The commission holds authority to make binding decisions on appeals related to City permits.

Access Appeals Commission

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 1

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 2

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 3

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 4

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 5

The Adult Day Health Care Planning Council advises on the development and improvement of adult day health care services. It provides expertise in healthcare planning, policy recommendations, and program evaluation. Key responsibilities include assessing community needs and advising on service delivery enhancements.

Adult Day Health Care Planning Council

Adult Probation Department supervises individuals on probation and facilitates their reintegration into the community. It provides reentry and rehabilitative services, including victim restitution and financial assistance for crime victims. The department values public safety, offender rehabilitation, and community partnerships.

Cristel Tullock

The Advisory Committee of Street Artists and Crafts Examiners evaluates arts and crafts applicants and monitors program compliance. It conducts studio visits and public screenings to ensure adherence to established criteria. Members also revise program criteria and undertake additional tasks as needed.

Advisory Committee of Street Artists and Crafts Examiners

The Advisory Council on Human Rights advises on anti-discrimination laws and racial equity initiatives. It provides expertise on reparations and public policy impacts on Black communities. It guides efforts to establish partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities in San Francisco.

Advisory Council on Human Rights

San Francisco Airport manages air traffic operations and ensures safe aircraft movement. It provides parking facilities and maintains airport infrastructure to accommodate travelers and staff. The department oversees ground transportation and coordinates with airlines for efficient passenger services.

Mike Nakornkhet

The Airport Commission oversees policy and strategic planning for San Francisco International Airport. It makes key decisions on airport development projects and financial management. It ensures compliance with regulations and collaborates on initiatives like terminal naming.

Airport Commission

Airport Commission Commissioner 1

Malcolm Yeung

Jose F. Almanza

Mark Buell

Susan Leal

Airport Director

Animal Care and Control Department manages animal sheltering, adoption, and emergency response services. It enforces animal-related laws and regulations, ensuring the humane treatment and safety of animals. The department also provides public education on responsible pet ownership and animal welfare.

Animal Care and Control Department

Virginia Donohue

Animal Care and Control Department, Director

The San Francisco Arts Commission oversees the integration of arts into city life and ensures public access to cultural experiences. It makes decisions on public art programs and allocates grants to support local artists and performances. The commission actively shapes policies affecting the arts ecosystem in San Francisco.

Arts Commission Commissioner 1

Arts Commission Commissioner 2

Arts Commission Commissioner 3

Arts Commission Commissioner 4

Debra Walker

Suzanne Ferras

Jessica Rothschild

Seth Brenzel

JD Beltran

Marcus Shelby

J Riccardo Benavides

Nabiel Musleh

Charles (Chuck) Collins

Lydia So

Arts Commission Commissioner 15

San Francisco Arts Commission invests in a vibrant arts community and shapes cultural policy. It enlivens the urban environment through public art programs and supports diverse artistic expressions. The commission facilitates meetings and discussions to engage the community in cultural development.

Ralph Remington

Arts Commission, Director of Cultural Affairs

The Asian Art Commission determines policy and administers the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. It oversees museum operations and collaborates with the Asian Art Museum Foundation on fundraising efforts. Commissioners ensure the museum's strategic direction and financial sustainability.

Asian Art Commission

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 1

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 2

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 3

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 4

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 5

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 6

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 7

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 8

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 9

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 10

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 11

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 12

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 13

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 14

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 15

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 16

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 17

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 18

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 19

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 20

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 21

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 22

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 23

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 24

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 25

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 26

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 27

Asian Art Museum showcases Asian art and culture through exhibitions and educational programs. It offers diverse collections and hosts special events to engage the community. The museum fosters cultural appreciation and understanding by providing access to its extensive art collections.

Dr. Soyoung Lee

Asian Art Museum, Director

The Assessment Appeals Board #1 hears property tax assessment appeals in San Francisco. It evaluates evidence presented by taxpayers and the Assessor to determine property values. The Board has the authority to make final decisions on assessments regardless of property type or value.

Assessment Appeals Board #1

Assessment Appeals Board #1 Commissioner 1

Assessment Appeals Board #1 Commissioner 2

Richard Lee

Stephen Wasserman

Adena Gilbert

Paul Bellar

Quirina Mitchell

Hilary Winslow

The Assessment Appeals Board #2 adjudicates property tax assessment appeals for San Francisco taxpayers. It evaluates evidence presented by taxpayers and the Assessor to determine accurate property values. The Board exercises authority to render final decisions on residential properties and specific real estate assessments.

Assessment Appeals Board #2

Assessment Appeals Board #2 Commissioner 1

Assessment Appeals Board #2 Commissioner 2

Assessment Appeals Board #2 Commissioner 3

Claire Ervin Lee

Louisa Mendoza

Joyce Lewis

Nicholas Goldman

Michelle Domingo

The Assessment Appeals Board #3 provides a platform for San Francisco taxpayers to contest property tax assessments. It conducts hearings where evidence from both taxpayers and the Assessor is evaluated. The Board makes binding decisions on property assessments based on presented evidence.

Assessment Appeals Board #3

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 1

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 2

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 3

Marc Dickow

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 5

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 6

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 7

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 8

Assesses property, applies exemptions, collects transfer taxes, and records official documents.

Assessor-Recorder

Joaquín Torres

The Ballot Simplification Committee ensures voter materials are clear and understandable. It reviews and revises ballot language to accurately reflect propositions and measures. The committee advises on simplifying complex legal and technical terms for voter comprehension.

Ballot Simplification Committee

The Bayview Hunters Point Citizens Advisory Committee provides policy advice on planning and land use matters in Zone 2 of Bayview Hunter's Point. It offers expertise in land use policies, zoning issues, and urban development. The committee advises the Board of Supervisors, City Boards, and commissions on relevant projects and initiatives.

Bayview Hunters Point Citizens Advisory Committee

The Behavioral Health Commission advises on mental health policy implementation and quality service delivery. It reviews and advocates for effective mental health services, ensuring policies meet community needs. It educates stakeholders to integrate mental health considerations into broader health strategies.

Behavioral Health Commission