The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously July 30 in favor of an extension of PRC's emergency financial assistance program for three years (from 2025 to 2028) and to increase the funding ceiling by $5.3 million.
The Budget and Finance Committee had unanimously approved the Department of Public Health's funding request July 24, sponsored by the city's three gay supervisors — District 4's Joel Engardio, District 6's Matt Dorsey, and District 8's Rafael Mandelman — at its July 24 meeting.
Dorsey had told the B.A.R. the matter would be voted on by the full board after it returns from its August recess. But, as it turned out, the matter was approved 10-0 July 30. (District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton was excused.)
"Positive Resource Center does great work for our community, and I think its emergency financial assistance grant program for people with HIV or AIDS is money well spent," Dorsey had told the B.A.R. July 24. "In most cases, these grants help beneficiaries avert potentially catastrophic outcomes like evictions and utility shutoffs. It's a small amount of money to help stabilize people facing near-term financial challenges, and it's ultimately more cost-effective for taxpayers to help people avoid more serious crises. I'm proud to be a co-sponsor, and I hope it earns unanimous support at the board."
Engardio and Mandelman did not return requests for comment.
The agreement was increased by $5,365,891 to $15,359,513.
Nicolas Menard, a legislative analyst, said at the July 24 meeting, "This agreement allows PRC to provide financial assistance to low-income people living with HIV."
"We ... did not identify any issues," he continued. "We also believe the budget request makes sense relative to the financial award and number of clients served. We recommend approval."
No supervisors or members of the public spoke on the matter before it passed July 24.
Tasha Henneman, PRC's chief of policy and government affairs, told the B.A.R. that the contract extension and increase is fairly typical of large contracts between the city and service providers.
"This needed to be done because the multi-year contract exceeded $10 [million]," she stated in an email. "This occurs fairly frequently with larger multi-year contracts and is simply an extension of funding for our clients. The program is in high demand and this is Ryan White funding."
The Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act is the United States government's program to provide federal funds to the states and local municipalities for uninsured, under-insured, and low-income people with HIV. Some of that goes to the emergency financial assistance program, which provides financial assistance to indigent San Franciscans with HIV.
"The goal is to alleviate financial burdens and improve quality of life by providing financial assistance for move-in expenses, unexpected utility bills, medications, phone services, or other barriers impacting their medical care," Henneman stated. "Last year 1,294 clients living with HIV accessed EFA and $1,139,836 in emergency funds was awarded."
Several years ago, PRC took over the old AIDS Emergency Fund, which used Ryan White funds as well as other donations to provide emergency financial assistance to clients living with HIV/AIDS. PRC's program is similar.
Henneman stated the program is in high demand. The additional funds are unrelated to PRC's financial woes of a couple of years back, she stressed.
"This is not related to our financial debt repayment plan with the city," she stated. "Over the past year, PRC has undertaken a significant transformation to become stronger, more resilient, and more effective. This process included an extensive restructuring to strengthen our financial position as an organization. As part of this transformation, we're pleased to have reached an agreement with the City and County of San Francisco's Controller's Office, the Department of Health Services, and the Board of Supervisors to repay our debt."
In 2022, the city provided millions in emergency funding to PRC so it could avoid shutting down residential facilities, as the B.A.R. reported.
The San Francisco Standard reported in March that the PRC's agreement includes a $7.7 million payment to the city, part of which involves the city acquiring the property at 333 Seventh Street in a real estate transaction worth $3.3 million.
Never miss a story! Keep up to date on the latest news, arts, politics, entertainment, and nightlife.
Sign up for the Bay Area Reporter's free weekday email newsletter. You'll receive our newsletters and special offers from our community partners.
Support California's largest LGBTQ newsroom. Your one-time, monthly, or annual contribution advocates for LGBTQ communities. Amplify a trusted voice providing news, information, and cultural coverage to all members of our community, regardless of their ability to pay -- Donate today!