San Francisco: Mayor London Breed Announces Increase of Funding for Assisted Living Placement Subsidies
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San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed today announced that $1.1 million in one-time funding that is carried forward from a prior budget will go to subsidize 20 to 25 assisted living placements. This will help prevent homelessness for extremely vulnerable individuals, including older people and adults with disabilities who are unable to live independently and safely. These facilities are a vital housing resource, supporting individuals who are unable to remain safely in their own homes while providing residential, community-living settings.

In recent years, small residential care facilities, which are generally more affordable and accessible to low-income residents, have been closing due to high operating costs, and this has resulted in a nine percent loss of total available beds since 2012. Assisted living placements support safe housing and treatment for residents engaged in the City's medical and mental health systems, ensuring that the right level of care is available and accessible when it is needed. This one-time funding would enhance the City's existing support for this sector. The City currently invests approximately $11.2 million per year to support assisted living placements; 15 percent of San Francisco's total assisted living beds are supported with a City-funded subsidy.

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"This is about making sure that our seniors and people with disabilities can age with dignity and that we have the resources to provide the care they need," said Mayor Breed. "This investment will provide more assisted living placements with supportive services for people in need to ensure that they remain housed and cared for."

The cost of assisted living is often prohibitively expensive for low-income individuals, with the average monthly rate for the least expensive assisted living facilities in San Francisco costing approximately $4,300 per month. This funding would help address the gap that exists between that cost and the monthly state Supplemental Security Income that residents in assisted living receive.

"The decreasing availability and increasing cost of assisted living presents real and significant challenges for our residents and families supporting their loved ones," said Shireen McSpadden, executive director of the Department of Aging and Adult Services and Co-Chair of the San Francisco Long Term Care Coordinating Council (LTCCC). "The Mayor's leadership and action to secure additional placements enables people who need a higher level of care to live safely in our communities."

The use of these funds would complement a recent State grant received by the Department of Aging and Adult Services to provide intensive case management and short-term assistance to extremely vulnerable adults living in San Francisco and in Permanent Supportive Housing who are at substantial risk of becoming homeless.

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