Supervisors hear success stories for Cameo House and Norma Hotel; funding included in mayor’s budget

The Budget and Appropriation Committee heard presentations from two San Francisco transitional housing programs on their work and outcomes and moved to file the hearing after public comment.

Rebecca Jackson, director of Cameo House at the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, told supervisors Cameo House offers residential alternative sentencing for justice-involved women with children. “We have room at Cameo to serve 11 families. That's 11 women and up to 22 children,” Jackson said, describing long-term stays (up to two years) and individualized goal plans aimed at reuniting families, reducing recidivism and transitioning participants to permanent housing.

Shania Branner, programs manager for the Recovery Survival Network, described the Norma Hotel’s reentry model for 18- to 35-year-olds. Branner highlighted client successes, including recent participants who saved money, reunited with family and secured permanent housing. “They are given the opportunity for up to a year, if not more, to save money, to get the life skills needed to successfully live on their own,” she said.

Supervisors praised both programs and said they had been reassured by conversations with the mayor’s budget office and city departments that funding for the programs will be included in the forthcoming mayor’s budget. Supervisor Hillary Ronan said she had called the hearing because the programs had faced repeated risk of cuts in prior budget cycles; she thanked program partners and moved to declare the hearing heard and filed.

Members of the public and city staff also spoke in support. Victoria Westbrook of Adult Probation thanked the board and the mayor’s office for continued support and described the Norma Hotel’s combination of housing and reentry services as essential for justice‑involved youth. Other commenters, including a formerly unhoused resident and representatives of the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, urged continued and transparent funding and asked that programs include clear wraparound services and measurable standards.

On a motion by Supervisor Ronan, seconded in the chamber, the committee voted to declare the hearing heard and filed; the clerk recorded five ayes and the motion passed.

The committee’s clerk noted items acted on at the hearing are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda unless otherwise stated.