Committee forwards $200,000 Blue Shield Foundation award for women’s economic security pilot

The Budget & Finance Committee voted March 1 to forward to the full Board a retroactive resolution authorizing the Department on the Status of Women (DOSW) to accept $200,000 from the Blue Shield of California Foundation. DOSW director Kimberly Alice said the two‑year grant (10/1/2022–9/30/2024) will fund evaluation of guaranteed income and micro‑grant pilots and launch a micro‑grant fund for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking and justice‑impacted women.

Alice said the item is retroactive because of staff turnover and interagency review, including review by the city attorney and the ethics commission. Supervisors praised the work and thanked staff for getting the resolution before the committee despite staffing constraints. There were no remote or in‑chamber public commenters on the item.

The committee recorded three ayes and moved the resolution to the Board with a positive recommendation; the full Board will consider final approval at its March 7 meeting unless otherwise scheduled.