Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee Hearing on Housing Conservatorship and COVID-19 Behavioral Health Impacts - June 25, 2020
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Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee Hearing on Housing Conservatorship and COVID-19 Behavioral Health Impacts - June 25, 2020
The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee, chaired by Supervisor Raphael Mandelman, met on June 25, 2020, at 10:15 AM. The committee included Vice Chair Catherine Stefani and Supervisor Hillary Ronan, who replaced Supervisor Walton. The meeting featured two hearings: (1) a review of the San Francisco Housing Conservatorship Preliminary Evaluation Report and (2) an examination of COVID-19's impact on the city's behavioral health response to unhoused residents. The discussions highlighted significant delays in implementing the new conservatorship law, persistent gaps in mental health services, and the exacerbating effects of the pandemic.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 1 (Housing Conservatorship): Numerous callers expressed concerns. Jennifer Steen, a psych nurse and working group member, noted that the city lacks housing for conserved individuals, data on whether people with multiple 5150 holds were offered housing is missing, and black people are disproportionately affected (33% of those with 4+ 5150s). Gabby Ruiz (TNDC) highlighted racial disparities and police involvement. Several speakers, including a family doctor and representatives from the Coalition on Homelessness, argued for expanding voluntary services and housing first, opposing conservatorship as a violation of civil liberties. Others, like Carolyn Kennedy and Tom Metz, supported conservatorship for those in severe psychosis, citing public safety and the need for urgent action.
- Item 2 (COVID-19 & Behavioral Health): Callers urged implementation of Mental Health SF. Javier Vermont (Treatment on Demand Coalition) called for investing in treatment and housing rather than police. Mary Kate Bacalao (Compass Family Services) noted skyrocketing demand for therapy among homeless families. Carolyn Kennedy asked for clear budget figures for beds. Molly Brown suggested buying motels for shelter and connecting with case management.
Discussion Items
- Housing Conservatorship Preliminary Evaluation Report (Item 1): Supervisor Mandelman expressed frustration that no one had been conserved under SB 1045 after a year. Angelica Almeida (DPH) presented data: 3,800 unique individuals placed on 5150 holds in FY 2018-19, with 117 having 4+ holds; 10 individuals currently have 8+ holds. The working group's report was delayed due to court paperwork issues, now resolved. Supervisor Mandelman pressed for a timeline and noted that the city lacks beds for the program. Jill Nielsen (DAS) explained the legal complexity. Supervisor Stefani questioned the lack of state hospital beds. The hearing was continued to July 23, 2020, for a check-in.
- Impacts of COVID-19 on Behavioral Health (Item 2): Hallie Hammer (DPH) described service disruptions: 60% of visits shifted to telehealth, 85% of established clients maintained contact, but acute care demand did not increase as expected. She outlined four priorities: street response, care coordination, bed optimization, and crisis outreach. Dr. Anton Nigussie Bland presented a bed modeling study, recommending 31 new locked acute beds, 18 psychiatric nursing facility beds, 16 residential care beds, and 16 12-month residential treatment beds at an annual operating cost of $11 million. He emphasized the need for a one-to-one housing placement complement. Supervisor Ronan criticized DPH for not using Mental Health SF as the blueprint, arguing that the department's approach remains fragmented. Supervisor Mandelman questioned the lack of a crisis stabilization facility for people in psychosis and the absence of funding for expanded street outreach and care coordination. The hearing was continued to the call of the chair.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1 (Housing Conservatorship): The committee voted unanimously (3-0) to continue the hearing to the regular meeting of July 23, 2020, to receive a progress update.
- Item 2 (COVID-19 & Behavioral Health): The committee voted unanimously (3-0) to continue the hearing to the call of the chair, with the expectation that DPH will return with more detailed cost estimates for street crisis response, care coordination, and crisis stabilization capacity.
- General: Supervisor Mandelman requested DPH provide dollar figures for meaningful progress on outreach and care coordination. Supervisor Ronan requested a follow-up meeting with DPH to align on Mental Health SF implementation.
Meeting Transcript
25th, 2020 regular meeting of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. I am Supervisor Raphael Mandelman. I chair this committee. We are joined by our Vice Chair Catherine Stephanie. Supervisor Walton is not able to be here today, but Supervisor Ronan has been appointed to replace him and will be joining at 1030. Our clerk is John Carroll, and I also want to thank the folks at SFGTV for staffing this meeting, as well as Board of Supervisors Operations and IT for lending their support as well. Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes, thank you very much, Mr. Chair. In order to protect board members, city employees, and the public during the COVID-19 health emergency, the Board of Supervisors Legislative Chamber and Committee Room are closed. This precaution is taken pursuant to all various local, state, and federal orders, declarations, and directives. Committee members will attend the meeting through video conference and participate in the meeting to the same extent as if they were physically present. Public comment will be available for each item on this agenda. Both Cable Channel 26 and sfgovtv.org are streaming a public comment number across the screen. Comments are your opportunities to speak during public comment, and they are available via phone by calling 415-655-0001. Once connected and prompted, enter the meeting ID. Today's meeting ID is 1453 2772. Then press pound and pound again to be connected to the meeting. When connected, you will hear the meeting discussions, but you will be muted and in a listening mode only. When your item of interest comes up, dial star, then three to be added to the speaker line. Best practices are to call from a quiet location, speak clearly and slowly, and turn down your television, your radio, or your streaming device. Everyone should account for potential time delays and speaking discrepancies between live coverage and streaming. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in either of the following ways. You may email me. My name is John Carroll. I'm the clerk of the public safety and neighborhood services committee, and my email address is J-O-H-N. Period C-A-R-R-O-L-L at SFGOV.org. If you submit public comment via email, I will include it in part of the legislative file. And you could also send your written comments to our office in San Francisco City Hall. Our address at City Hall is room 244. One, Dr. Carlton B. Goodlit Place. And the zip code is 94102 within California. Mr. Chair Uh, thank you, Mr. Clerk. Can you please uh well actually before we begin, I want to make a motion to excuse Supervisor Walton for the entire meeting and Supervisor Ronan until she arrives. Uh Mr. Clerk, uh can you call the roll? Yes, Mr. Chair. On the motion to excuse Walton from the entire meeting and Ronan from the meeting until she arrives. Vice Chair Stephanie. Hi. Stephanie I, Member Mandelman. I. Chair Mandelman, excuse me. Mandelman I.
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