One Year After Budget Agreement, Mayor's Office Continues to Block Funds for Urgent Public Housing Repairs
SAN FRANCISCO — Nearly one year after the Board of Supervisors and Mayor Breed agreed on an historic investment package for affordable housing, one of the most critical pieces – $20 million for life-safety repairs in public housing – remains unspent, with no timeframe for the funds to be spent, the Mayor’s office revealed at a Budget and Finance hearing today.
“My office hears on a daily basis about the substandard living conditions in our existing public housing stock. Mold, broken heat during winter months, sewage backups,” said Supervisor Preston, who represents the Fillmore / Western Addition neighborhoods. “The Mayor’s office blocking funds for public housing repairs is completely unacceptable, especially to residents in my district who suffer everyday because of the conditions in their homes.”
In June 2022, the Board and the Mayor agreed on a $112 million affordable housing budget package, which includes $40 million to acquire land for development of 100% affordable housing, $20 million for capital improvements/repairs to public housing and/or HUD subsidized co-ops, $12 million for affordable educator housing, and $10 million for elevator repairs at SROs.
While plans are in progress, following advocacy by Supervisor Preston, to disburse funds for educator housing and affordable housing site acquisition, it was revealed today that, for the public housing repair funds, “criteria, parameters, and dates [are] not yet determined,” according to the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development.
MOHCD cited staffing capacity issues in response to questions on why the funds have not only failed to be disbursed, but why there are no plans or an anticipated date for their release.
“City departments and the Mayor’s office often talk about the importance of equity,” Preston said. “To have no progress whatsoever a year after the Board of Supervisors allocated money for public housing repairs is a slap in the face to low-income tenants in public housing, and undermines the very notion of pursuing equity in city decision-making.”
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