Good evening sf.citi members,
I am writing to you today with an important update on San Francisco’s plans to address Mental Health SF. Today, Mayor Breed and Supervisors Ronen and Haney introduced a revised approach to the existing Mental Health SF originally proposed by the supervisors.
Overview
The primary focus of the new Mental Health SF initiative is to serve homeless populations suffering from mental illness and/or substance use disorders, rather than the citywide approach originally proposed by the Supervisors. This legislation calls on the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors to appoint an 11-member working group that will make recommendations to the Board, the Mayor, and the Health Department about how to carry out the program’s reforms. It would also establish an Office of Coordinated Care designed to ensure that patients are progressing through the city’s network of services, adding an additional level of oversight to the health department. As an additional amendment, rather than a Mental Health Center originally proposed by the Supervisors, both Supervisors and the Mayor have agreed to refurbish the existing Behavioral Health Access Center on Howard Street, which will operate around the clock.
Most importantly, by removing the measures from the ballot and introducing legislation instead, the Mayor and Board of Supervisors retain the ability to make amendments if and when necessary, rather than relying on a subsequent ballot measure in order to do so. Mayor Breed has committed to fast-tracking implementation when the legislation passes and will prioritize the hiring of a new Director of Mental Health SF by next summer.
Mental Health SF will be rolled out in stages, but once it’s fully operational, officials estimate it will cost around $100 million annually, not including one-time costs.
Next Steps/Potential Impact
San Francisco will continue making investments immediately and in the upcoming budget to meet the goals of Mental Health SF; however, Mental Health SF will be dependent on identifying new revenue sources. Mayor Breed and Board of Supervisors President Norman Yee have asked the Controller to convene a process to reform the City’s business tax, which could provide a new revenue stream for Mental Health SF. The City Administrator and the Capital Planning Committee are also looking at moving up a Mental Health Bond for the November 2020 election to help pay for capital improvements. As more information on the funding mechanism is released, we will keep you updated.
As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions. Thank you for your continued membership and support.
Jen
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