Committee advances Haluna Health contract extension to keep city outreach teams operating

The Homelessness and Behavioral Health Select Committee on June 2 advanced a six-month extension of the city’s contract with Haluna Health to operate the Homeless Outreach Team (HOTT), approving a committee report that will go to the full Board of Supervisors.

Emily Cohen of the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing presented the item, saying the eighth amendment would extend the current agreement to Dec. 31, 2023, and add about $1.4 million to support the additional term. HSH said it inherited the agreement from the Department of Public Health and has issued an April RFP to reprocure outreach services; the department plans to select a provider over the summer and begin the new contract in December.

Cohen described HOTT’s work as proactive outreach, case management, field assessments for coordinated entry and staffing for the street crisis response team. HSH reported last fiscal year HOTT completed more than 36,000 engagements, distributed roughly 44,000 essential items and conducted about 1,700 housing assessments—“nearly triple” its original annual goal of 600 assessments.

The Budget and Legislative Analyst (BLA) recommended a $500,000 reduction to the proposed contract increase; HSH agreed and had a redline version available. A public commenter questioned whether the contract costs and placement outcomes represent good value, citing what he estimated as per-placement costs. HSH and Haluna representatives said district outreach teams typically work in pairs with one vehicle and that HOTT both makes independent shelter placements and works with centralized referral partners.

Chair Supervisor Hilary Ronan moved to recommend the amended contract as a committee report; Vice Chair Mandelmann and Supervisor Shimon Walton voted “aye.” The motion passed without objection. The committee record shows the matter will be taken up on the Board of Supervisors agenda on June 13 unless otherwise stated.

The committee action is procedural and does not itself change program operations; HSH said it will return to the Board later to enter the new reprocured agreement.