City Budget Cut!
Urgent Advocacy Help Needed!
The SF Department of Public Health (DPH) has proposed cutting ALL funding for NAMI San Francisco as part of $17 million in citywide budget reductions. This happened despite DPH promising that no direct services would be impacted.
NAMI SF provides essential direct services to families and individuals in mental health crisis. Without city funding—our primary revenue source—NAMI SF will be forced to close our doors, leaving families without critical support when they need it most.
There is still time to reverse this decision. Below are three ways for you to help!
ACTION 1: WRITE A LETTER OF SUPPORT
*CLICK HERE FOR A SAMPLE LETTER that can be used.
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*Send the letter to the following 3 emails
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SF Health Commission: healthcommission.dph@sfdph.org
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Department of Public Health: dphbudgetideas@sfdph.org
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Your District Supervisor: find contact info LINKED HERE
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You can attach our impact report LINKED HERE​
ACTION 2: SIGN OUR PETITION!
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Send a message directly to the SF Health Commission. Sign our petition! LINKED HERE
​ACTION 3: ATTEND THE SF HEALTH COMMISSION MEETING
WHEN: Monday, February 2, 4:00 PM
WHERE: City Hall, Room 408, 1 Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Your presence matters! Stand with us to form a crowd and let them know that our community counts. NAMI Staff will be on the steps of City Hall at 3:30 pm with signs if you'd like to meet before entering. Signs will be provided. If you choose to give public comment, please reference this guide.
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Email Template:
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Subject: Oppose Funding Cuts for NAMI San Francisco in Proposed DPH Budget
Dear ____:
I urge you to restore ALL funding for NAMI San Francisco in the proposed DPH budget. Despite promises to protect direct services, NAMI SF—the only organization in San Francisco supporting families navigating mental illness—faces complete elimination.
The SF Health Commission meets on February 4. There is still time to reverse this decision.
[Optional personal testimony:
As a [participant/volunteer/community member], I have witnessed the transformative impact of NAMI programs. [In 2-3 sentences, describe specific impact.]]
Without NAMI SF, San Francisco loses:
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The sole resource for families during psychiatric crises
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Services for 3,000+ high school students annually learning to recognize symptoms early
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Culturally responsive programs in Cantonese and Spanish
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Embedded support in housing communities that prevents homelessness and maintains recovery
Research proves family education reduces hospitalizations, shortens inpatient stays, and improves treatment outcomes. NAMI SF's free, peer-led programs are often the first or only support in preventing crisis and emergency system involvement.
The city has funded NAMI SF since 2014 because these programs work. Eliminating this funding contradicts stated priorities and abandons our most vulnerable residents when they need help most.

Please restore full funding for NAMI San Francisco.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address - to show you're a constituent]
[Contact information]