Public commenters urge DPH to adopt 30% rent standard for supportive housing

During general public comment on Oct. 19 multiple callers urged the Department of Public Health and the Health Commission to ensure supportive-housing residents in DPH properties do not pay more than 30% of their income in rent.

Jordan Davis, who identified herself as founder of the "30 Right Now" coalition, said she had received complaints that many tenants in DPH supportive housing were paying "70 to 80% of their income" for rent and asked that the department apply the 30% standard passed last year by Supervisor Haney. "We really need to make sure that this is funded so that nobody is paying more than 30% of their income towards rent," Davis said.

A caller identified as Nourit said her son, who lives in Conrad House and has a mental illness, pays about 80% of his income for rent and lacks a kitchen; she asked why DPH housing had not followed the federal 30% standard. Longtime resident Richard Gerling and caller Lux Fassin also voiced support for extending the 30% standard to DPH properties and asked commissioners to commit to change.

The commissioners acknowledged the comments and the secretary said the department considers public comment in subsequent APH (action) items. The transcript records no immediate formal DPH commitment or vote on applying the 30% standard during this meeting; commissioners and staff said they would review data and follow up.

Status: callers' complaints and requests were entered on the public record and commissioners asked staff to review and report back; the matter remained unresolved at the end of the meeting.