[RESOLUTION OPPOSING BUDGET CUTS TO THE DISTRICT HEALTH CENTERS THAT PREDOMINATELY SERVE IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS]
Resolution urging the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor to reconsider the current proposals to reduce the City and County of San Francisco’s Department of Public Health community based primary care health services to ensure that low-income immigrants have access to health and social services.
WHEREAS, more than 50% of San Francisco’s population are low income immigrants and over 75% of the San Francisco low income immigrants are foreign born and language competency and cultural appropriateness services are limited and;
WHEREAS, over 5,000 new immigrants continue to arrive in San Francisco; and
WHEREAS, San Francisco’s economy depend heavily on hard working low-income immigrants, who contribute enormously to the vitality of our neighborhood communities, and who are integral to our San Francisco and California’s future success; and
WHEREAS, most small businesses, where most low income immigrants work, operate on razor-thin profit margins and most do not provide employer based health plan; and
WHEREAS, more than half of San Francisco’s low-wage working families are immigrant families without access to health insurance and cuts in health services disproportionately affect immigrant communities; and
WHEREAS, many low income immigrants reside in unstable single-room or crowded housing and are only a step away from homelessness if a catastrophic illness occurs; and
WHEREAS, many low income immigrants depend on the Department of Public Health’s Community Health Network such as Chinatown Public Health Center, and other District Health Centers center for access to basic health and social services; and
WHEREAS, the proposed 15% percent staff reduction for FY 2004-2005 meant that actual expected loss of services is around 25% direct services; and
WHEREAS, the lack of health care services to these vulnerable immigrant communities mean that there may be an increase demand for urgent and emergency services at the San Francisco General Hospital; and
WHEREAS, studies confirm that every dollar invested in prenatal care saves three dollars in care soon after birth and at least four dollars in longer-term medical costs, and that access to preventive care for children with common health conditions avoids more costly hospitalizations; therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Immigrant Rights Commission strongly opposes the proposals to cut funding that provide basic health and social services to low-income immigrants; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Immigrant Rights Commission urges the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor to strongly oppose the proposals that single out for budget cuts programs providing low income immigrants with basic health and social services.
