Plaza East residents press housing authority over stalled funds, RFP and contractor accountability

Martha Hollins, president of the Plaza East Resident Council, told the San Francisco Housing Authority commission on May 23 that residents had ‘‘secured $7,000,000 for capital improvement and an additional $1,200,000 for essential services,’’ but said the community remains uncertain how and when that money will be spent.

Hollins and other resident leaders described chronic maintenance problems, slow responses to work orders and a feeling that resident voice has not been adequately incorporated into procurement. ‘‘We are deeply concerned about the lack of response’’ to resident letters from April, Hollins said, urging the authority to ensure resident priorities are reflected in forthcoming solicitations.

Housing authority staff said the $1.2 million solicitation is meant to support on-site services and was drafted after outreach to residents earlier in 2024. Housing staff member Zawadi said the authority planned to issue the RFP ‘‘by the end of this month’’ and that capital-improvement procurement would follow in early to mid-June. She emphasized procurement rules require transparent, parallel communications once an RFP is posted.

Dennis Williams, a DAC member calling in by phone, pressed the authority on whether federal procurement rules permit on-site resident services during predevelopment and urged accounting and clarity on prior capital spending. Williams raised concerns about past management practices at Plaza East, called for stronger opportunities for local minority and micro-developer participation on capital contracts and said resident leadership had pushed for more direct control of funds.

Housing authority staff and commissioners acknowledged the complaints and described next steps to improve engagement: further resident council meetings, inclusion of resident input in the RFP review process, and clearer, regular reporting about how funds are being allocated. President Joaquin Torres said he wanted resident voices to be present when proposals are reviewed and that staff would continue outreach to ensure procurement remains compliant with federal rules while being responsive to resident priorities.

The commission also urged housing staff to provide clearer accounting of tenant participation funds and capital expenditures in upcoming public updates and to continue one-on-one follow-ups for residents who raised urgent personal cases during public comment.