DAS Commission: Community Living Fund served 283 people in Jan–Jun; waitlist and housing limits slow discharges

The San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services Commission heard a six‑month report on Oct. 5 from Fanny Lapitan, director of the DAS benefits and resources hub, on the Community Living Fund (CLF) covering January through June 2022. Lapitan said CLF received 109 new referrals during that period and served 283 participants, with about 62% of referrals eligible for services.

"For the 6‑month period covering January through June '22, CLF received a total of 109 new referrals during the period," Lapitan said, and she described program eligibility and the role of contracted partners such as the Institute on Aging and Brilliant Corners in providing rental subsidies and supports.

Lapitan told commissioners that about 70% of participants received intensive case management and that 98 participants also received rental subsidy assistance through Brilliant Corners. She reported an average monthly cost to provide purchased goods and services of about $189 per person when excluding home care and rental subsidies; including home care and rental subsidies, Lapitan said the average rises to roughly $2,228 per month.

The report also flagged capacity constraints. As of September the CLF waitlist had 35 referrals averaging about 97 days, with approximately 86% waiting for intensive case management. Lapitan said the waitlist had grown compared with the prior six months, primarily because the program prioritized referrals from Laguna Honda Hospital.

Lapitan described a multi‑agency 'core team' convened to facilitate discharges from Laguna Honda while the hospital completes CMS recertification; the core team includes DAS, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, In‑Home Supportive Services (IHSS), Homebridge, Brilliant Corners and other community partners.

When asked how many people the core team had helped, Lapitan said she did not have a precise tally at the meeting but estimated the group had reviewed "almost two dozen" people since July and that the team typically reviews about eight to 10 cases at each biweekly meeting. She emphasized that housing availability remains a primary bottleneck to discharges.

Commissioners thanked staff for the report and noted upcoming budget instructions; Lapitan said budget guidance would arrive next month and that further discussion is expected at future commission hearings.

What's next: DAS staff will continue monitoring CLF performance and the core team's discharge work; commissioners signaled interest in follow‑up numbers on outcomes and housing placements at future meetings.