HomeRise, one of San Francisco’s largest providers of permanent supportive housing, turned a blind eye for years as tenants and staff filed repeated complaints alleging sexual misconduct by a case manager entrusted with residents’ care, an investigation by Matthew Mitchell found. With support from the Fund, Mitchell partnered with San Francisco Chronicle reporter Susie Neilson to examine how the nonprofit – which receives tens of millions of dollars in public funding each year – failed to protect the formerly homeless residents it promised to serve. The investigation is part of a series that Mitchell began while a student at UC Berkeley’s Investigative Reporting Program. An earlier story focused on the death of a HomeRise resident whose body was discovered decomposing after HomeRise staff failed to conduct mandatory wellness checks. Following the story’s publication, HomeRise’s chief executive stepped down. The story was cited in a civil grand jury report that identified gaps in city oversight and recommended a series of reforms.
Grantee uncovers serious issues at San Francisco housing provider, in series that has already led to CEO’s ouster and grand jury report
