Budget committee amends and forwards revised MSC South contract with Saint Vincent de Paul

The committee considered a resolution to approve a Fourth Amendment to the grant agreement between the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) and Saint Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco to continue shelter operations at Multi Service Center (MSC) South.

Dylan Schneider of HSH presented the amendment as a continuation to provide shelter operations and services at MSC South, which the department said could serve up to 340 guests under pre‑COVID configurations. Nick Menard of the Budget & Legislative Analyst's office reviewed the budget and performance history, noting the site’s pre‑COVID capacity and that current COVID‑informed operations have the site serving about 218 adult guests. Menard reported an estimated annual operating cost around $7.1 million under maximum capacity and a 17% contingency in the proposed budget.

Supervisor Asha Safaei pressed HSH staff on earlier contract records for 2017–2019. HSH Deputy Director Gigi Whitley said staff found an expired 2019 agreement (07/01/2014–06/2019) and offered to share it with the BLA. Safaei and other supervisors raised concerns that the proposed amendment set a budget sized to pre‑COVID capacity while the site is operating with fewer guests in a 24‑7 model, which HSH said requires additional staffing and meals and therefore did not reduce operating costs.

In response to members’ questions about locking in a lengthy term while department analyses continue, HSH proposed amending the resolution to reduce the not‑to‑exceed amount to about $25,938,348 and shorten the extension so the contract would end June 30, 2024. Deputy City Attorney Anne Pearson advised that the committee needed consistent edits across the resolution; clerks confirmed revised language would be placed in the file. The committee voted to amend the resolution as drafted by the city attorney and then forwarded the amended resolution to the full Board with a positive recommendation; votes were recorded as two ayes with Member Mar excused.

The committee encouraged HSH to return to the Board with updated budget analyses and staffing plans during the coming budget cycle so supervisors can weigh in on wage and staffing decisions for shelters as the department standardizes pay and case‑management ratios across its portfolio.