San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors met on Wednesday to fiercely criticize Mayor Daniel Lurie’s proposed budget cuts, which target essential programs for legal aid, financial coaching, and community building services.
Several supervisors and local nonprofit advocates argued that these cuts jeopardize crucial support for vulnerable populations who are already facing challenges due to impending federal reductions.
Supervisor Connie Chan emphasized the importance of prioritizing community values during the budget process. She noted the chaos present in politics at both state and federal levels and stated, “How do we prioritize our values?” Chan expressed her belief that the city should proactively address service gaps, particularly during these trying times when many depend on such services.
The budget cuts are a response to a staggering $818 million deficit facing the city, prompting Lurie to request a 15 percent reduction across all departments. Such cuts threaten programs that protect tenants from informal evictions and wage theft through the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD).
Dan Adams, an official from MOHCD, addressed the packed chamber filled with nonprofit workers, lawyers, and residents who rely on city services, stating, “When we have to make reductions in funding, it’s not fun. These are very difficult decisions to make.”
The deadline for Lurie to present his finalized budget proposal is June 1, with the Board of Supervisors having a month thereafter to ratify it. Currently, essential programs like general civil legal services, community-building initiatives, and financial capability services face the threat of significant budget cuts.
MOHCD indicated that these potential cuts were influenced by community surveys to identify service preferences and a review of funding proposals submitted by various organizations. However, Supervisor Joel Engardio expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of this scoring system. “Does this score really take into account the community that it’s scoring?” he asked, to applause from the audience.
Emphasizing the critical role of civil legal services, Engardio advocated for their protection, stating, “What civil legal service does is, it provides free legal aid. Legal aid helps you stay in your home and stops you from becoming homeless. In the long run, we’re saving money.”
Although some legal aid programs focused on domestic violence and formal evictions will remain funded, broader programs powered by MOHCD, which provide general civil legal assistance, could face devastating cuts. Reports indicated that reducing funding for these nonprofits could equate to a loss of approximately $4.2 million dedicated to fighting informal evictions, wage theft, and wrongful foreclosures.
Pressure on Mayor Lurie continues to mount from local nonprofits urging him to reconsider the cuts, particularly given the dual challenges they are facing from both the Trump administration’s federal cuts and City Hall’s proposed reductions.
For instance, on Monday, the Asian Women’s Shelter revealed it would lose half a million dollars from its federal grant. The organization is concerned that without support from MOHCD, it might face even further financial strain during its upcoming funding application in May.
Similarly, the Hype Center, which serves at-risk youth facing sexual exploitation, reported a staggering 85 percent reduction in its funding, a move that could lead to the organization’s closure.
Adrian Tirtanadi, executive director of Open Door Legal, warned that if the proposed cuts take effect, homelessness in the city would likely increase by 4 percent annually, referencing findings from the organization’s studies. Open Door Legal, which provides pro bono legal aid, would be forced to shutter one of its offices and potentially lay off around 15 employees.
During the nearly four-hour hearing, numerous clients who benefitted from free legal services stepped up to share their experiences. Many expressed gratitude for the support they received, which helped them navigate various legal challenges.
One individual, a limousine driver, recounted how Open Door Legal assisted him in retaining his job by helping him keep his license. “Without them, I would be homeless on the street,” he stated, underscoring the real and pressing impacts of potential cuts.
In addition to the looming budget reductions, MOHCD has also received an additional reduction target of $2.1 million set by Lurie. When asked if these cuts would further impact community programs, Adams responded, “We will do everything we can to make sure that’s not the case.”
image source from：https://missionlocal.org/2025/04/sf-budget-cuts-free-legal-aid-nonprofits/
