San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed and community leaders today celebrated the acquisition of 933 Clement Street, a two-storied building in the Inner Richmond neighborhood by Self-Help for the Elderly (SHE). The San Francisco community-based organization, provides critical services to seniors.
“As we work to create more housing and critical services for seniors, we need to continue to be creative in our approach and forge new partnerships,” said Mayor London Breed. “Thanks to Anni Chung and her entire team at Self Help for the Elderly, we are able to provide not only more housing, but the critical services our seniors deserve.”
The acquisition of the property was supported by a $4.1 million a grant secured through a competitive request for proposals process through the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD). Assemblymember Phil Ting secured an additional $2.1 million in funding from the State of California. Once the project is complete, the Department of Disability and Aging Services will provide SHE with operating subsidies of $400,000 annually for community services for seniors.
“I’m thrilled that Self-Help for the Elderly will be launching a new residential care facility in the heart of the Richmond District. Sites like this are vital to ensuring our older adults can age in place in their communities, and receive the care they need in a culturally meaningful way,” said Assembly Budget Chair Phil Ting.
The currently vacant 933 Clement Street is a mixed-used building that was once a restaurant located on one of the City’s major commercial corridors. With this acquisition, SHE will provide living space for up to 15 low-income seniors requiring around-the-clock care on the second-floor space. The ground floor will serve as programming and dining space for the facility’s residents and for 75 seniors attending lunch and activities during the week. SHE will also provide in-house outreach stations for social services and employment services for residents in the neighborhood.
“I am excited that Self-Help for the Elderly is expanding from Central Richmond to the Inner Richmond, providing integral services and support to our seniors and their families,” said Connie Chan, District 1 Supervisor and Budget Committee Chair. “We are able to accomplish this expansion thanks to our AAPI Community and leaders; their advocacy resulted in $30 million for API Capital Improvement Funds last budget cycle.”
According to the Department of Disability and Aging Services, older adults are the fastest growing age group in the City, and nearly 30% of residents will be 60 or older by 2030. Over the past three decades, the community of older adults have shifted to become predominantly a population of immigrants, with over half speaking a primary language other than English. Nearly half of the City’s seniors identify as Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI). San Francisco is committed to collaborating with community partners to deliver services that promote health, safety, and independence for seniors in the most culturally competent ways.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for our city’s older adult population, where all too often they face higher housing and living costs on a fixed income and are isolated,” said Kelly Dearman, Executive Director of the Department of Disability and Aging Services. “Congratulations to our partner Self Help for the Elderly, as innovative projects like this help enable our city’s older adults to age in place and thrive in their community.”
Although the Inner Richmond is home to one of the highest percentages of AAPI senior residents, there are currently no affordable culturally competent elder care facilities in the neighborhood. To address the urgent need for high-quality and affordable elder care, 933 Clement Street by SHE will be transformed into a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE), offering 24-hour care and supervision to frail seniors and seniors with dementia at half the cost of traditional elder care facilities.
“We are truly grateful for the acquisition grant from the city to fund our 933 Clement Street RCFE project. These smaller-size RCFEs provide safe havens for seniors to age in place, but the rapid decline of these homes causes major concerns among our elected officials and providers of eldercare services,” said Anni Chung, President and CEO of Self-Help for the Elderly. “We thank Mayor Breed, Supervisor Chan, Assemblymember Ting, the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, and the Department of Disability and Aging Services for their tremendous support of our seniors.”
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 budget included $30 million for acquisition and tenant improvements of community facilities. These would be paid for by issuing Certificates of Participation (COPs), a type of debt, through the Office of Public Finance. Earlier this year, the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for up to $20 million of these funds and awarded $13.7M in that first round. In August, MOHCD issued the remaining $16.3 million in a second round of RFP. Community projects that go through this competitive selection process and meet requirements for capital improvements and acquisition will receive funding.
About Self-Help for the Elderly
Founded in 1966, Self-Help for the Elderly (SHE) is the premier senior services provider for immigrants in the Bay Area and has operated elder care facilities since 2000. The organization currently offers senior housing and supportive services across five properties in San Francisco, including Autumn Glow Alzheimer’s Care Home, SHE’s existing RCFE located at 654 Grove Street in the Western Addition. Each year, SHE serves more than 40,000 clients across the San Francisco Bay Area, of which approximately 80% are immigrants, have limited-English proficiency, and are low-to-moderate-income seniors.
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