180 ADA Complaints, $30M for Barrier Removal Lead Disability Commission Agenda

Disability and Aging Services Commission • San FranciscoOctober 7, 2026

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San Francisco's sidewalks and curb ramps remain the biggest barriers for disabled residents. That was the takeaway from a 37-minute review by the city's Office on Disability and Accessibility at the Disability and Aging Services Commission's Oct. 7, 2026, meeting. Commissioners also heard how federal HR 1 changes threaten CalFresh and Medi-Cal coverage, learned how a new Dignity Fund reserve will work, and approved three contracts by 5-0 votes.

180 ADA grievances were filed last year; 80% involved curb ramps, programmatic access and the public right-of-way
$30 million prioritized for barrier removal; Holiday Plaza ramp to replace failing elevator
HR 1 response: DAS starts CalFresh renewal outreach 60 days early and adds home visits
New Dignity Fund reserve starts with $151,000; a nonprofit warns one-time-funded programs will end
Food Security Council created as MOHCD absorbs HomeRise-related supportive services contracts
Commission approves $110,928 CalFresh contract and $242,000 medical transport grant, each 5-0

Sidewalks, Not Buildings, Drive Disability Complaints

Why it matters: One in 10 San Franciscans reports a disability. Their most common complaints are about getting down the block, not getting into buildings.

Where things stand: Eli Gillardin, Director, Office on Disability and Accessibility (ODA), gave the office's fiscal year 2025-26 year in review. "We received 180 ADA grievances last year," said Gillardin. About 80% fell into three categories: curb ramps, programmatic access and the public right-of-way.

Gillardin said ODA plans to move its complaint system to a 311-based process instead of keeping it within the office. He also reported that $30 million has been prioritized for barrier removal.

Other highlights included:
- Beyond the Front Door, an accessibility program for small businesses
- Support for the National Association of the Deaf conference
- Emergency preparedness work during the citywide power outage

The Holiday Plaza fix: The $9 million Holiday Plaza project will replace a failing elevator with a ramp. Construction is set to begin in early summer 2027 and finish in spring 2028.

The other side: Acting President Nelson Lum raised public safety at the site. "The Holiday Plaza, for instance, has been known to be a drug dealer's heaven," said Lum. He asked whether police had input on the design. "We work very closely actually with the police and fire," Gillardin responded.

Commissioner Wanda Young asked how ADA coordinators in other departments divide their duties. "Do they pretty much function as you do where you focus on public access," asked Young. Gillardin said employment-related ADA issues under Title I are handled by Human Resources and the Office of Civil Rights. Commissioners also asked how grievance options are publicized and raised concerns about sidewalk cracks.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The item was informational, and no vote was taken. Gillardin's own framing points to where the money should go. "We recognize this is one of the most, if not the most significant area of accessibility that the city needs to invest in," he said of sidewalk access. Wheelchair users, older pedestrians and transit riders who rely on curb cuts stand to benefit most. A 311 intake system could also make complaints easier to file.

What's next: Holiday Plaza construction begins in early summer 2027. ODA's shift to a 311-based complaint system is planned but has no announced date.

HR 1 Forces Earlier Outreach to Keep Benefits

Why it matters: Federal HR 1 work requirements and twice-yearly Medi-Cal renewals starting January 2027 put coverage at risk for adults under 65, including people with disabilities.

Where things stand: Deputy Director Cindy Kaufman presented the department's fiscal year 2026-27 annual report, organized around five goals. "There are more barriers to staying enrolled with increased paperwork, stricter eligibility," said Kaufman.

DAS has changed how it handles CalFresh renewals:
- Outreach now starts 60 days ahead, up from about 45
- Staff contact every client
- Home visits are offered
- Staff help clients identify work exemptions

The report also highlighted the Mobile Benefits Center and ADA coordinator training.

Breaking the Cycle: DAS is joining two community conservatorship pilots, one in a shelter and one in a Mental Health Rehabilitation Center. A separate pilot, funded by Tipping Point and run with UCSF, will serve 20 participants over three years.

The other side: Commissioner Linda Parker Pennington pressed on accountability. "Are there measures of impact that you're using," she asked. Kaufman said the report's goals are year-long work: "the action items truly are action items." She noted that the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing publishes the point-in-time count.

Commissioner Young asked about a dementia care analysis and a mayor's office hoarding workgroup. Kaufman said she would follow up.

What's next: Twice-yearly Medi-Cal renewals begin January 2027.

Dignity Fund Reserve Won't Save Expiring Programs

The basics: The Dignity Fund is San Francisco's dedicated funding stream for older adults and adults with disabilities.

Why it matters: Starting in fiscal year 2028, the fund will grow or shrink with the city's aggregate discretionary revenues. That ties senior services to more volatile city revenues.

Where things stand: Genevieve Heredia of DAS explained the math for fiscal year 2030:
- Revenues are projected to grow 2.6%, yielding $1.7 million
- The cost of doing business rises 2.8%, or about $1.8 million
- The $151,000 gap will be deposited in a new Stabilization Reserve to cover the shortfall

The reserve has firm limits. "It is not to be used for other uses like new projects or backfill for expiring one-time funding," said Heredia. DAS will update the community each May and November. One commissioner praised the plan.

The other side: Jacqueline Zimmer-Jones, Executive Director, Next Village San Francisco, said the Dignity Fund has supported her group's District 2 University for six years. She accepted the need for reserves. But she warned that programs restored through budget add-backs are being allowed to sunset. "Programs are going away and there is no effort to continue them," said Zimmer-Jones. She asked the commission to back restoration during budget season and with the mayor's office.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The item was informational, and no vote was taken. The reserve protects core services from revenue dips. Nonprofits that rely on one-time add-backs, however, must win new money through the budget process.

What's next: DAS's next community updates come in November and May.

Food Office, HomeRise Fallout and Online Directory

Where things stand: Kaufman delivered the executive director's report while Executive Director Kelly Dearman was on vacation.

Food security: Mayor Lurie directed the Human Services Agency to create a 13-seat Food Security Council, replacing the sunset Food Security Task Force. The council includes five community organizations, three residents and five city departments. Legislation creating an Office of Food Security Coordination within the agency has cleared the Rules Committee and the full Board of Supervisors. "This is in order to centralize a citywide hunger response effort," said Kaufman.

HomeRise: Kaufman recounted HomeRise's 2024 audit red flags and its Tier 3 status. A year after the audit, "HomeRise had resolved 13 out of 61 corrective actions," she said. The Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) holds the primary housing contract and will take over DAS's supportive services contracts. MOHCD and the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing will place new providers. The change affects supportive-housing residents who depend on those services.

Online Resource Directory: The directory launched in July. Program cards are the listings for individual services, and community organizations claim them to manage their own entries. Kaufman said 84% of cards have been claimed by more than 60 organizations. Young asked about ongoing oversight. Staff said listings can be corrected, and the vendor, Find Help, runs random checks. Parker Pennington asked how to claim her own program card.

Three Contracts Pass Unanimously

Why it matters: The approvals keep multilingual CalFresh enrollment help and secure medical transport running for some of the city's most vulnerable residents.

CalFresh outreach: Tiffany Kearney, Analyst, Department of Disability and Aging Services, said the California Department of Aging allocated $110,928 for Oct. 1, 2026, to Sept. 30, 2028. "This works out to $55,464 per year," she said. DAS has held the contract since 2022. Young moved approval, and Commissioner Barbara Sklar seconded.

APA Family Support Services: A linked grant modification passes the state money to APA Family Support Services. It adds $110,928 plus a 10% contingency, for a total not to exceed $206,879. APA and its subcontractors, including the Samoan Community Development Center and the Filipino Resource Center, provide outreach, prescreening and in-language application help. The work focuses especially on SSI recipients. Young moved approval and asked about the subcontractor list.

Medical transport: Sandra Texera, Program Manager, Office of the Public Conservator, presented a new grant with JHM NEMT. It provides $220,000 plus a 10% contingency, not to exceed $242,000, from Nov. 1, 2026, to June 30, 2029. "The purpose of this grant is to provide transportation services for medically frail older adults and adults with disabilities with secure transportation services," said Texera. Rides cover moves from locked to unlocked treatment, medical appointments, legal services meetings and benefit visits. Riders include conservatees found gravely disabled under LPS conservatorship and Adult Protective Services clients.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Each item passed with For: 5 (Lum, Sascha Bittner, Young, Sklar, Parker Pennington), Against: 0, Absent: 2 (President Janet Y. Spears, Commissioner Martha Knutzen). No public comment was offered on any of the three.

Minutes: The Sept. 2, 2026, minutes were approved 5-0, with Spears and Knutzen excused.
Employee of the Month: Nick Wang, an In-Home Supportive Services management assistant, was honored for work on reducing case backlogs.
CASE at 50: Andrea Lazarick of CASE said "more than 100 individuals from San Francisco nonprofits serving older adults and adults with disabilities attended" the coalition's anniversary event.
TAC report: Alan Cooper flagged AI-assisted elder scams and said "homeless seniors are in some ways the bottom of the rank."

Looking ahead: CASE and the Dignity Fund Coalition will hold a working group on the service and allocation plan on Oct. 28. Lazarick invited commissioners to attend CASE meetings.

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