HSH, DPH and Public Works outline use of 2020 health and recovery bond for shelters, supportive housing and behavioral‑health facilities

Department leaders told the oversight committee how the 2020 Health and Recovery bond is being applied across homelessness services, supportive housing and health projects.

Gigi Whitley (Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing) said the bond authorization was $147 million with $30.1 million issued so far. HSH used the first issuance to acquire a three‑story navigation center at Lower Polk that serves about 75 youth and has pursued an aggressive acquisition strategy by leveraging state Homekey and federal COVID relief grants. Whitley said the city and HSH successfully secured six Homekey grants totaling roughly $115 million to acquire about 625 units; she said some properties will require seismic retrofit and rehabilitation estimated at about $40–50 million for two sites (835 Turk and 635 Ellis Streets), with selection of a nonprofit development team under way.

Kathy Jung (Department of Public Health) described behavioral health allocations: DPH has $60 million in the 2020 bond for two projects — a 242‑bed residential step‑down facility on Treasure Island (bond contribution $43.5M with other funding sources including state grants, Prop C and Treasure Island development fees; total project estimate ~$72M; Mercy Housing selected as developer) and an expansion/renovation of Zuckerberg San Francisco General’s psychiatric emergency services (bond allocation $11.4M; total project ~$23M) with OSHPD approval already received and early demolition started.

Edmund Lee (Public Works) reported that of the $41.5M allocated for right‑of‑way improvements (streets, curb ramps, plazas), crews have completed 372 resurfaced blocks (124% of the bond program goal) and 123 curb ramps (102% of target), and the program has spent roughly 98% of its allocation. He said some street‑structure projects remain and one plaza is pending.

Committee members pressed departments on operating costs for permanent supportive housing (average operating subsidy cited as $550 per person per month for services, roughly $1,100 per unit per month), model details on low‑barrier navigation centers and the balance between building more shelters and investing in permanent supportive housing. HSH said the $550 figure covers on‑site case management, janitorial and building operations and that family units incur higher average operating costs.

Staff said they will continue to return with detailed timelines, cost estimates tied to procurement and design outcomes, and requests for developer team selection details as projects move to construction.