Committee backs $38.5M in state/federal funding for housing, APS expansion and 16 HSA positions

The Budget & Finance Committee forwarded two ordinances providing roughly $38.5 million in state and federal revenues to the Human Services Agency and amending the salary ordinance to add 16 positions for adult protective services and housing support.

Trent Rohrer, HSA executive director, said Project RoomKey funds ($32.3M) will cover non‑FEMA‑eligible costs for shelter‑in‑place hotels, demobilization and related behavioral health staffing. He described AB 135’s expansion of Adult Protective Services (lowering the age threshold to 60–64 and adding outreach for people experiencing homelessness), projecting a roughly 17% increase in referrals (about 1,200 additional referrals on top of ~7,000 currently received) and requesting additional protective service workers, supervisors, clerks and support staff.

HSA also described three related housing uses: CalWORKs housing support (~$6M), Housing and Disability Assistance Program (HDAP, ~$4M) to place disabled single adults into supportive housing while they apply for federal disability benefits, and HomeSafe patches to prevent eviction or bridge assisted‑living placements. Rohrer said these state dollars can be used to free up local dollars for other needs.

The Budget and Legislative Analyst recommended adjustments to permanent and temporary salary appropriations to reflect expected hiring timing; the committee agreed to use an attrition line to preserve hiring authority while reducing near‑term budgets. Reese Sandler (Controller’s office) and committee members discussed whether to reduce FTE counts or adjust salary lines; HSA said they plan to hire but later in the fiscal year.

Supervisor Marr asked for more information about HDAP placements and about supports for subsidized long‑term care; Jill Nielsen (DAS) said the city uses a Community Living Fund and partnerships with the Institute on Aging and that assisted‑living patching and waivers are part of the strategy.

The committee voted to forward both ordinances to the full board with positive recommendation. The ordinances require a two‑thirds vote for the appropriation ordinance under Charter Section 9.113.