Episcopal Community Services Seeks $40.8 Million Funding Amid Scrutiny Over 162 Overdose Deaths

San Francisco’s Homeless Oversight Commission is scheduled to hold a hearing tomorrow to consider a significant funding request from Episcopal Community Services (ECS). The non-profit is seeking an additional $13,165,974, plus a 15% contingency, which would revise their total contract amount to $40,896,141 for the period spanning July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2028. This request comes amidst public scrutiny, with a tweet from Susan Dyer Reynolds stating, "They have the most OD deaths."

The substantial funding request for ECS, a major provider of services to San Francisco's unhoused population, is intended to support its ongoing operations. The proposed contract extension covers several years, indicating a long-term commitment to addressing homelessness in the city. The commission's review will delve into the necessity and justification for this revised financial allocation.

Concerns regarding overdose fatalities within supportive housing facilities, including those managed by ECS, have been a persistent issue in San Francisco. According to a report by The Voice SF, ECS has accounted for 162 overdose deaths in permanent supportive housing over a five-year period, marking the highest number among providers. Earlier data from The Standard indicated at least 17 deaths in ECS buildings by July 31, 2023, with ECS representatives acknowledging difficulties in tracking these numbers due to staffing limitations.

The broader context reveals a severe drug crisis in San Francisco's supportive housing system, where nearly three people died of overdoses weekly in the first seven months of 2023, according to medical examiner data. Critics point to the "housing first" policy, which places individuals directly into housing without sobriety requirements, as a factor, particularly with the rise of fentanyl. Chris Callandrillo, ECS Chief Operating Officer, noted that 80% of tenants in one ECS building admitted to drug addiction, underscoring the challenges.

ECS has actively engaged in overdose prevention efforts, with Executive Director Beth Stokes advocating for universal Narcan access, prevention rooms, and properly funded behavioral health care in an op-ed. The organization's website also highlights programs like those at the Minna Lee, which have been recognized for reducing overdoses. However, the high number of fatalities continues to draw attention to the effectiveness and safety of current approaches.

San Francisco has allocated significant resources to combat the drug crisis, including opioid settlement funds for naloxone distribution and overdose prevention training. Despite these efforts, the city recorded 806 overdose deaths in 2023, the highest ever, though preliminary data for 2024 showed a 15-22% reduction in fatalities. The Homeless Oversight Commission's decision on ECS's funding request will be a critical point in the ongoing debate over the city's strategy for addressing homelessness and the opioid epidemic.