Committee debates charter amendment to create Homelessness Oversight Commission amid heavy public comment

Supervisor Safaie presented a second‑draft charter amendment to establish a Homelessness Oversight Commission to provide transparency and accountability over the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH), including a role for the Controller’s Office to audit services and contracts.

Safaie said the proposal followed months of stakeholder conversations with advocates, HESPA, Our City Our Home, the mayor’s office and department staff. He argued the charter amendment would require performance metrics, vet contracts, and add auditing by the controller. Committee members raised questions about term staggering and the initial two‑year versus four‑year seat terms; Chair Peskin asked why some board‑appointed seats were initially two‑year terms and the sponsor explained the drafting followed prior templates and could be reappointed.

Public comment was extensive and divided. Provider groups and oversight advocates (HESPA, GLIDE, Compass Family Services) urged a balanced appointment structure and an explicit seat for permanent supportive‑housing tenants; tenant advocates and people with lived experience demanded more direct representation and sought that merchant/neighborhood seats be replaced with tenant seats. Supervisor Chan voiced concern that mayoral appointees would retain a majority and said she preferred an even split or board majority for appointments. Supervisor Safaie agreed to further amendments (auditing and performance‑standards language) and the committee continued the item to the call of the chair to allow additional drafting and stakeholder work.