Our Budget Priorities for an Equitable Recovery

SAN FRANCISCO - June 25, 2021

TO:

Mayor London N. Breed 

San Francisco Board of Supervisors

Department of Children, Youth & Their Families (DCYF)

As the convener of seven neighborhood centers citywide, San Francisco Neighborhood Centers Together (SFNCT) has witnessed COVID-19’s devastating impact on vulnerable individuals and families across San Francisco. In the past year, our network has collectively served 7,000+ San Franciscans, focusing on residents who were hardest hit by the pandemic. 

From expanding access to food security programs to hosting Community Learning Hubs and coordinating virtual programming for thousands of isolated seniors, our neighborhood centers have risen to the challenge of delivering critical services to thousands of at-risk individuals during this crisis. Now, we are asking that you rise to the challenge of crafting a budget that enables our centers to continue doing their essential work in the recovery ahead. Specifically, we request that you prioritize the following:

  • Invest in Food Security Programs - We strongly support, at a minimum, the proposed $41.4 million for food security programs. We also commend the plan to shift distribution to community-based partners. This model will allow for trusted community partners to provide culturally competent delivery methods including home-delivered groceries, specialized nutritional plans, and central food pantries to reach target populations. 

  • Restore DCYF Community Convener Funding - We ask for $150,000 in funding from DCYF to restore Community Convener funding for our seven neighborhood centers. With this funding, our neighborhood centers could fund hours for a staff person to host community groups at our centers and cover additional insurance for these events. This would enable community meetings, safety workshops, and town halls to be held at our neighborhood centers and bring communities together to build resilience and unity. 

The pandemic has tested the safety net systems that surround marginalized populations in every imaginable way. We must remember that recovery will take longer for low-income families and other vulnerable populations. We ask that you keep this in mind in crafting your budget and ensure it meets the needs of those who need it most. 


Danny Sauter 

Executive Director, San Francisco Neighborhood Centers Together

(415) 562-6441

danny@sfnct.org


Member Neighborhood Centers: 

Gina Dacus

Executive Director, Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center (District 9)


Shelley Bradford Bell

Interim Executive Director, Booker T. Washington Community Center (District 5) 


Michael Lee

Executive Director, Cameron House (District 3)

Mario Paz

Executive Director, Good Samaritan Family Services Center (District 9)

Felisia Thibodeaux 

Executive Director, Southwest Community Corporation & I.T. Bookman Community Center (District 11)

Michelle Cusano

Executive Director, Richmond Neighborhood Center (District 1)


Nestor Fernandez

Executive Director, Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center (District 3) 

Danny Sauter