Committee backs multiple shelter, shelter-operator and affordable-housing items; asks for monitoring reports

San Francisco — On May 18 the Budget & Finance Committee advanced several shelter and affordable-housing items to the Board after staff described program performance and the Budget and Legislative Analyst said monitoring materials were available or forthcoming.

HSH Deputy Director Emily Cohen described a second amendment to 5 Keys’ NextDoor shelter grant that extends operations through June 2025 and adds funding for three years; the department reported approximately 248 guests under COVID-informed capacity and said the site served 618 unique people since reopening. HSH said an on-site monitoring report had been completed and was provided to the committee, and BLA recommended approval.

The committee also considered the Bayview Safe Navigation Center amendment with Bayview Hunters Point Foundation (extend through June 2025; not-to-exceed value revised). BLA requested that HSH provide the program-monitoring report to the full Board prior to final action; HSH said a site visit and monitoring were scheduled and the report would follow.

Separately, the committee considered a bond/ground-lease package to finance a 221-unit, 100%-affordable project at 600 Seventh Street developed by Mercy Housing California 97 LP. MOHCD presented a complex financing stack including an $84.3M city loan and other state gap financing (including No Place Like Home funds). Supervisors asked about the composition of units (120 set aside as permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless households) and the use of excess ERAF dollars in the financing; MOHCD and the Controller’s Office said excess ERAF flows into the general fund and that project-specific legacy carry-forward items may appear in the department’s budget. The committee forwarded these items to the full Board with positive recommendation (shelter items) or as noted by roll-call.

What happens next: Items will appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda. The committee asked HSH and MOHCD to ensure monitoring, cost and financing documentation accompanies full-Board review.