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The City of San Francisco responds to COVID-19

  • Bay Area deaths tick upward as state data issue persists August 4, 2020 (SF Bay.ca)
    Covid-19 fatalities in the Bay Area reached a grim milestone this week, with the 7-day average of deaths topping out at 10.6 as of Monday, the highest level seen thus far as a result of the pandemic.

  • Californians with mental illness drop private insurance to get taxpayer-funded treatment August 3, 2020 (San Francisco Chronicle)
    There’s an open secret among those who care for people with serious mental illnesses.

  • Editorial: COVID-19 Leaves Children at Risk April 30, 2020 (San Francisco Examiner)
    With shelter in place, the daily, protective eyes of teachers, childcare professionals, coaches, and doctors are no longer on the Bay Area’s vulnerable children. This means children could be at greater risk for abuse and neglect. HSA urges community members to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect.
  •  ​​Editorial: Protecting SF’s homeless from the pandemic March 27, 2020 (San Francisco Chronicle)
    Stuck with thousands of empty hotel rooms, San Francisco is devising a useful deal to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus: moving thousands of homeless and otherwise vulnerable residents into them at discount rates.
  • Bay Area low-income seniors struggle to access food during coronavirus March 25, 2020 (San Francisco Chronicle)
    Congregate meal sites, food banks, and meal delivery programs are all seeing skyrocketing demand for their services. But with the state’s orders that seniors stay at home, service providers must quickly figure out how to get food to the most vulnerable population.
  • Coronavirus and homelessness: SF wants to house people in schools, churches March 17, 2020 (San Francisco Chronicle)
    School auditoriums, church halls, and state properties in San Francisco are being looked at as potential shelters as the city scrambles during the coronavirus crisis to temporarily house people who are either homeless or live in tight quarters such as residential hotels.

Want to be a parent? SF aims to recruit 100 foster families to keep kids in the city February 27, 2020 (San Francisco Chronicle)
Nearly half of San Francisco’s 480 foster children are forced to live in homes 100 miles or more away because there aren’t enough local families to take care of them. It would take about 100 new foster families to keep all those kids in San Francisco, and the city has launched a campaign effort to find them.

City funds services for transgender older adults February 10, 2020
The Department of Disability and Aging Services has granted approximately $1 million to establish social service programs for transgender and gender-nonconforming older adults and adults with disabilities over the next three years.

City supports the Older Adults Program classes that have been cut from the City College of San Francisco's budget

‘It’s a basic human need’: In a first, SF gives out diapers to people on food stamps December 2, 2019, (San Francisco Chronicle)
Due to a $2.5 million state grant, the San Francisco Diaper Bank distributes thousands of free diapers to parents with children up to age three. 

Mayor London Breed Announces Plan for Strengthening Conservatorship in San Francisco October 7, 2019 (Press Release)
With Senate Bills (SB) 40 and 1045 now in law, San Francisco will be able to better treat people suffering from severe mental illness and substance use issues, and provide them with permanent supportive housing. 

San Francisco holds job fair for seniors, people with disabilities August 5, 2019 (KGO TV)
San Francisco did something that it's never done before -- it hosted a job fair for seniors and people with disabilities. Hundreds showed up to find work and dispel some of the myths they face every day.

Low-income San Francisco residents set to receive financial aid July 19, 2019 (KRON 4)
San Francisco will provide an additional $9.8 million through the 2020-2021 fiscal year for 4,700 low-income adults without dependent children, that are homeless, have disabilities, or need help finding work.

San Francisco residents who receive public benefits through HSA get free museum admissions this summer. Media coverage includes:

HSA and community partners make CalFresh food benefits available to eligible SSI recipients in June 2019. Media coverage includes: 

Breed Names New Early Care and Education Office Director March 28, 2019
San Francisco Mayor London Breed appoints Mission District native, Ingrid Mezquita, to head the City's programs supporting education and child care for children ages 0-5. 

The HSA Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) hosted a gathering of government and community leaders to celebrate the progress made on implementing the City’s groundbreaking LGBT Aging Policy Task Force recommendations. Media coverage includes: 

Feds, State Investigating 3-Alarm Natural Gas Blast and Blaze in San Francisco February 6, 2019
HSA offers assistance to renters who were displaced by the ruptured high-pressure gas line in San Francisco's Inner Richmond. Massive flames from the gas explosion destroyed five buildings and prompted evacuations within a one-mile radius of the fire zone.

SF implements LGBT aging policy plan January 23, 2019
HSA's Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) makes considerable progress in implementing the groundbreaking plan for LGBT seniors to age comfortably in San Francisco.

SF seniors ask mayor to focus on housing and jobs for older residents January 16, 2019
In a meeting with the Dignity Fund Coalition, Mayor London Breed said she plans to hire a staff member to focus on San Francisco’s growing older adult population and those living with disabilities and to help them obtain employment.

Hunger has gotten worse in San Francisco in the past 5 years, despite $48 million in increased spending December 20, 2018
The city has increased spending on nutrition programs by $48 million. Yet the extra meals and groceries are still not enough to meet the needs of the estimated 227,000 San Franciscans who are at high risk of food insecurity, according to a 200-page report released by the city’s Food Security Task Force.

On Lok helps LGBT seniors this holiday season November 28, 2018
On Lok, a San Francisco-based community organization that serves older adults in the Mission District, partners with the Department of Aging and Adult Services, providing vital services, including home-made meals, to seniors in the community, including the Latino and LGBT communities.

University institute plans nation's first municipal disability cultural center October 30, 2018
The Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) is working with the Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability at SF State to help change perceptions about people with disabilities by showcasing their experiences. The Longmore Institute is spearheading development of the nation’s first Disability Cultural Center.

The singular needs of LGBT seniors: San Francisco fund training for workers June 18, 2018
The city of San Francisco, through its Department of Aging and Adult Services, is funding a $400,000 effort to train hundreds of workers at companies and public agencies on how to better communicate with LGBT adults.

Home care subsidy helps SF’s middle-income seniors February 12, 2018
Department of Aging and Adult Services program designed for people who have long struggled to afford home care on their own but who earn too much to qualify for free or low-cost home care like In-Home Supportive Services provided by Medi-Cal.

Three Strategies That Helped San Francisco Increase Foster Home Applications by 300 Percent January 26, 2018

Nearly 1 in 4 San Franciscans struggle with hunger May 24, 2017
Food insecurity has been thrust into the national conversation, given the White House’s federal budget proposal that aims to cut food stamps

Immigrants' fear cited in declining food stamp use in SF May 16, 2017
SF concerned by a recent spike of withdrawals from CalFresh among eligible households

Mayor Lee wants to expand homeless child care in the city May 11, 2017
To parents struggling to get back on their feet, free child care means everything

Fire victims get a break   May 10, 2017
Human Services Agency Fire Victims Assistance Fund aims to benefit low-income residents

Peer support, dementia programs launched for LGBT seniors March 2, 2017
Department of Aging and Adult Services announces grants for two new major community service programs

Immigrants fearful of status sharing at food banks February 14, 2017
CalFresh food assistance, even in these uncertain times, remains the same

STiR Startup Binti rapidly signs California clients February 8, 2017   
Software helps speed up the process of approving SF foster parent applications

Obamacare has made a difference for San Francisco January 13, 2017
Editorial: Trent Rhorer and Barbara Garcia

Federal disability aid an elusive solution December 6, 2016
SF is boosting efforts to help thousands eligible for SSI payments qualify and get off the streets

Code Cracking November 10, 2016
Code for America’s ranks of engineers increase access to SF public benefits.