I. CALL TO ORDER/ AGENDA CHANGES

Vice President Shokooh Miry called the meeting to order at 5:13 pm. Vice President Miry reviewed the ground rules, wished everyone a happy Women’s History Month and highlighted the importance of lifting-up women during these times.

Associate Director Carol Sacco acknowledged that we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone who are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula.

No changes to the Agenda.

No Public Comment.

Action: To approve the meeting agenda. (Roll Call Vote)             m/s/c (Andary/Soo/5 ayes, 0 nays - Unanimous)

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Vice President Miry called for an action on the Approval of Minutes from the February 24, 2021 meeting.

No Public Comment.

Action: To approve the minutes from the Commission meeting on February 24, 2021. (Roll Call Vote)                         m/s/c (Soo/Rihal/5 ayes, 0 nays - Unanimous)

III. DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Director Kimberly Ellis wished everyone a Happy Nowruz (Persian New Year) and dedicated her report to the eight victims from last week’s shooting in Georgia, sharing that the Department stands in solidarity with the AAPI community. Director Ellis shared that the Department joined Mayor London Breed for a Women’s History Month ceremony on March 15, wherein the Mayor honored four women. The Department also recently had a virtual hearing, Call to Challenge: The Urgency of the Needs of Girls and Gender Expansive Youth in San Francisco, with the Alliance for Girls and Young Women’s Freedom Center, which uplifted the voices of youth and youth-serving organizations around the impact of COVID-19.

Director Ellis mentioned that the Department submitted the response to Supervisor Connie Chan’s request for a report on the impact of COVID-19 on working mothers, which identified job loss and long-term financial impact as a result of the pandemic.  She also shared that the Department had supported Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton with the introduction of a Resolution for Women’s History Month, and department staff worked with Supervisor Catherine Stefani’s Office to extend the sunset date for the Family Violence Council. Director Ellis also noted that on March 8, the Blue Shield of California Grant Leveraging Collaborations was approved for renewal.

No Public Comment.

IV. CONSENT AGENDA

No Public Comment.

Action: To approve the Consent Agenda. (Roll Call Vote)                         m/s/c (Soo/Shorter/5 ayes, 0 nays - Unanimous)

A. WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH RESOLUTIONS

Vice President Miry introduced Brittney Doyle, Founder and CEO, WISE Health; Susanna Lau and Lana Nguyen, Co-Founders, SupplyHopeInfo; and Dr. Carina Marquez, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, the City’s Women’s History Month honorees. She extended a warm and appreciative welcome to the honorees and invited them to each share a few words.

Commissioners shared congratulations and thanked the honorees for their important contributions to the community.

V.  NEW BUSINESS

A. Presentation on the Mary Elizabeth Inn Partnership

Associate Director Carol Sacco shared a presentation on the Mary Elizabeth Inn, an affordable and permanent supportive housing program located in the upper Tenderloin neighborhood with 92 units of affordable housing units. Ms. Sacco shared that the Inn’s tenants are single adult women, of which the majority have experienced gender-based violence and housing insecurity and are low income. She noted that Mary Elizabeth Inn (MEI) offers onsite supportive services and as the units are permanent supportive housing, tenants have a lease and full legal rights of tenancy. These structures support individuals staying indoors long-term.  Ms. Sacco highlighted that based on the San Francisco Homeless Count and Survey Reports, 35% of San Francisco’s homeless are women, and 44% of homeless women and 74% of transgender respondents report experiencing domestic violence in their lifetimes, while 15% of women report that domestic violence was the primary cause of their homelessness.

The Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) currently holds the contract for the permanent supportive housing units at MEI, and the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development will provide ongoing Asset Portfolio Management. Since the fall of last year, the Department has been working with HSH on this partnership. Effective July 1, 2021, HSH will transfer the contract administration for The Inn to the Department and will also transfer funds to the Department's budget to be earmarked for operational expenses related to the program. Ms. Sacco stated that the Department can provide expertise on gender-based violence and best practices when working with survivors of violence, and an interagency Memorandum of Understanding between the Department HSH is currently being developed and will be in place by July 1, 2021. Ms. Sacco said that the Department will be an active partner in helping HSH to develop a new Domestic Violence Coordinated Entry System. 

No Public Comment.

Commissioners shared their excitement for this new partnership and thanked Ms. Sacco for her work.

VI. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT

Public Comment:

1. Beverly Upton, Executive Director of the San Francisco Domestic Violence Consortium thanked Director Ellis for speaking on behalf of the Domestic Violence Consortium at the Board of Supervisors meeting and shared her support of the new partnership with the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing and keeping the units at the Mary Elizabeth Inn available to the most vulnerable women. Ms. Upton also shared a special appreciation of Commissioner Shorter.  

VII. ADJOURNMENT

Vice President Miry wished everyone a Happy Nowruz, noting that this a time to be in community and take a moment to reflect on the impact of American Iranian families.

Commissioner Soo reflected on last week’s shooting and the hate against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. She noted that many in the AAPI community do not report hate crimes for fear of retaliation. She also shared a special thank you to Commissioner Shorter for her 21 years serving on the Commission.

Commissioner Shorter shared that this will be her last Commission meeting and that she is leaving to serve in another capacity.  She expressed a heartfelt thanks to the staff of the Department.

Action: To adjourn the meeting. (Roll Call Vote)            m/s/c (Soo/Shorter/5 ayes, 0 nays - Unanimous)

Meeting adjourned at 6:03 pm.