Committee backs extension and funding boost for Homeless Prenatal Project’s eviction-prevention work

The Homelessness and Behavioral Health Select Committee voted Sept. 8 to forward to the full Board of Supervisors a resolution extending and increasing the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing’s grant with the Homeless Prenatal Project (HPP) to continue homelessness-prevention rental assistance.

The amendment would extend the agreement through June 30, 2027, and add roughly $13.5 million to the contract, bringing the total not-to-exceed amount to approximately $23–24 million. HSH Deputy Director Emily Cohen told the committee HPP administers prevention funds through the San Francisco Emergency Rental Assistance Program (SFERAP) and screens households at risk of homelessness for back-rent, move-in assistance and related financial help.

Cohen said HPP has been serving substantially more households than its contract goals, noting last fiscal year it exceeded its target and that the program issues assistance in about 2.2 days on average—roughly half the five-day goal in its contract. "We had very successful outcomes," Cohen said, adding that in a random sample 89 percent of clients did not return to the homeless response system after receiving prevention services.

Nick Menard of the Budget and Legislative Analyst’s office reviewed the monitoring report and found no financial-management concerns, saying the proposal includes a 20 percent contingency to accommodate higher-than-contracted client volumes. Lily Milton, director of programs at Homeless Prenatal Project, offered public comment thanking the committee for its support.

Vice Chair Supervisor Rafael Mandelmann moved to forward the item as a committee report with a positive recommendation; the clerk recorded two ayes and the motion passed. The measure will appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda on Sept. 12 for final consideration.

The committee record lists the contract’s expanded prevention work as part of San Francisco’s broader strategy to reduce evictions and homelessness by distributing assistance to households most likely to become homeless. No formal objections or amendments were recorded at the committee meeting.