Cameo House backers urge city to preserve residential program that keeps mothers with children together

Dozens of speakers and several partner organizations pressed the Budget & Appropriations Committee to preserve funding for Cameo House, a residential program that serves justice‑involved mothers and their children.

Supporters described Cameo House as an alternative sentencing and reentry program that allows women to reside with their children while receiving treatment, job training and family support. "Cameo House is a high quality residential treatment program that provides services to women and women with children," Doug Welch of the public defender's office said in recorded testimony. Partner organizations (the San Francisco Pretrial Diversion Project, Young Women's Freedom Center and the Center on Juvenile & Criminal Justice) submitted videos and callers urging the board to find a way to maintain the program’s operations.

Speakers gave outcome statistics and program impacts: employment and housing placement rates were highlighted as metrics showing the program’s effectiveness in reducing incarceration and preventing child‑welfare separations. Several current and former staff, volunteers and residents described personal stories of recovery and family reunification.

The hearing recorded these public comments as part of the formal budget record; no appropriation decision was made at this session. Advocates requested the committee and relevant departments consider sustainment funding during final budget deliberations.

What’s next: City budget negotiators will review CAMEO’s funding requests as part of the HSH/DHSH and general‑fund deliberations; advocates asked supervisors to prioritize this item before final votes.