Committee backs $60.8 million HUD Continuum of Care grant application for San Francisco homeless services

The Homelessness and Behavioral Health Select Committee voted Sept. 22 to send a resolution to the full Board of Supervisors that authorizes the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) to apply to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Annual Continuum of Care (CoC) competition for approximately $60,800,000.

Emily Cohen, deputy director at HSH, told the committee the application includes roughly $52 million in annual renewal funds for existing projects, up to $5.5 million in bonus funds, and $1.5 million for planning, and carries a contingency of about $2 million to cover any HUD adjustments to fair market rent. HSH said it worked with 22 provider partners and the Local Homeless Coordinating Board to prepare the collaborative application, which is due to HUD the following week.

The resolution was presented as a committee report and, after no public callers spoke on the item, Chair Supervisor Hillary Ronan moved to forward the measure to the full Board with a positive recommendation. The roll call vote recorded Supervisor Mandelmann, Supervisor Walton and Chair Ronan voting aye; the motion passed unanimously.

Why it matters: CoC awards fund shelter operations, supportive services and rental subsidies that local providers use to maintain permanent supportive housing and to prevent returns to homelessness. HSH said the application reflects efforts to sustain and grow federal support for the city's homelessness response.

What the committee heard: Cohen emphasized that the grant combines renewals and competitive bonus and planning funds and that HSH coordinated closely with providers and the LHCB on priorities. No callers provided public comment on the item during the committee meeting.

Next steps: The committee report will appear on the Board of Supervisors' Sept. 26 agenda, where the full board will consider the resolution and any further amendments or conditions before authorizing the actual application submission to HUD.