Rules Committee backs reconstituting shelter monitoring panel through July 2022

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee voted unanimously on April 5 to recommend an ordinance from the mayor to reconstitute the Shelter Monitoring Committee and extend its sunset date from Dec. 31, 2020, to July 1, 2022.

Chair Aaron Peskin said the committee, first created roughly 16–17 years ago, provides oversight of city-funded shelters and navigation centers. Dara Papa, director of Whole Person Integrated Care at the Department of Public Health, told the committee the panel monitors compliance with 32 standards of care, conducts announced and unannounced site visits, investigates guest complaints and recommends health and safety protocols. She said about six committee seats are currently vacant and that terms that ended in December will need reappointment.

"We are really excited about the opportunity to bring the group back together, identify certain things like the scope — navigation centers — and also whether or not some of the standards of care would need to be updated," Papa said.

No members of the public signed up to speak on the item. Chair Peskin moved to send the ordinance to the full Board with a positive recommendation; Supervisors Rafael Mandelmann and Connie Chan joined Peskin in an aye vote and the motion passed without objection.

The ordinance will give staff time to recruit and vet applicants and return nominations to the Board before the new July 2022 sunset date.