HSH budget primer: $672 million total, most dollars flow to housing and providers; 27% vacancy rate flagged

Deputy Director for Administration and Finance Gigi Whitley presented an overview of the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing's current fiscal picture, telling the commission that "our budget as of this year is, dollars $672,000,000." Whitley said the department's budget has nearly tripled over the past six years and is supported by a blend of local Our City Our Home funds, HUD grants, state aid and other local revenue.

Whitley laid out how the department budgets those dollars: about 62% is dedicated to housing (largely sustaining existing units as well as some new housing), roughly 20% to temporary shelter (emergency shelter and transitional housing), about 8% to prevention, 2% to outreach and roughly 7% to personnel and program delivery. She said approximately 70% of expenditures are direct grants to nonprofit service providers and that HSH is working to improve data to show allocations by population.

On staffing, Whitley reported a high vacancy rate: "our vacancy rate is still about 27%" and confirmed there are about 70 vacant full-time positions. She and commissioners discussed how vacancies and turnover affect service delivery and the department's ability to implement the strategic plan.

Whitley described capital and acquisition work supported by recent state awards, saying HSH has been awarded "more than 200,000,000 in competitive state home" funds for acquisitions and supportive housing operations and noted other one-time state funds for encampment resolution efforts and a cabins program. She also described that most grants operate on a cost-reimbursement basis and that the department reviews nonprofit financials and master leases before funding projects.

Commissioners and members of the public pressed staff for more transparency about how much contracted funds end up going to property owners and to seek greater clarity on the budget-per-person calculus. Staff said they would return with more detailed breakdowns and suggested monthly reporting and future deep dives on SROs, lease subsidies and maintenance funding.