Supervisors limit extensions for Bayview Hunters Point contracts amid financial and staffing concerns

The Homelessness and Behavioral Health Select Committee on June 2 approved amended recommendations from the Budget and Legislative Analyst that reduced the proposed extensions and not-to-exceed amounts for two Bayview Hunters Point Foundation agreements amid financial, governance and service-delivery concerns.

DPH described two proposed amendments: one to continue behavioral-health outpatient and transitional services (adult and children’s outpatient care and the Jelani family transitional program) and a separate amendment to continue methadone-dosing and substance-use-disorder services including jail delivery. BLA staff reported the nonprofit was placed on the city’s elevated concern list in December because of financial condition, governance and compliance issues; program monitoring showed strong performance in the Jelani family program but lower units of service in other programs due to staffing vacancies and delayed audits.

DPH and the controller’s office have put an agency technical assistance plan (ATAP) in place that includes higher unit-of-service rates, cash-flow projections, staffing support, fast-tracked credentialing and additional program-manager oversight. For the methadone program specifically, DPH noted that dosing units met or exceeded targets in recent fiscal reporting, while counseling units lagged because of turnover and pandemic-era dosing-home policies.

Given the concerns, the BLA recommended shortening the renewal terms and lowering the not-to-exceed amounts; Supervisor Shimon Walton moved to adopt the BLA’s recommendation to reduce the renewal lengths and amounts for both items and forward them to the full Board as amended. The committee approved the motion by roll-call vote without objection. DPH pledged continued technical assistance and periodic reporting so the department, controller and HSH can monitor progress and determine whether further actions are needed.