SF appoints Compass agent to new homelessness commission

San Francisco has named a Compass real estate agent to its commission on homelessness.

Dena Aslanian-Williams was appointed to the city’s Homelessness Oversight Commission after she allayed concerns about social media posts opposing an RV homeless encampment near Lake Merced, the San Francisco Standard reported.

Supervisor Dean Preston said he cast his support after she demonstrated an “open mind on a number of the issues.”

Mayor London Breed had nominated Aslanian-Williams to serve in a seat set aside for a commissioner who had worked with business and neighborhood groups.

Aslanian-Williams admitted her lack of experience during a meeting of the board’s Rules Committee. But several supervisors said they hoped she could serve as a bridge between the business community and the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. 

The broker is affiliated with The Taisch Team at the Compass office on Van Ness Avenue.

She previously served as president of the West of Twin Peaks Central Council, which advocates for more than 20 neighborhood and property owner’s associations. She also served with the San Francisco Association of Realtors.

She drew fire in August for comments on Nextdoor opposing an RV site for homeless people and disparaging harm reduction policies, leading some to question her eligibility for the commission, according to the Standard.

She replaced a previous nominee, Vikrum Aiyer, a tech executive and former chief of staff in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, who withdrew his nomination when allegations surfaced about past misconduct.

The homelessness commission, which met in May for the first time, can solicit audits, establish performance standards and hold hearings to gauge the effectiveness of programs run by the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, which has a budget of $690 million.

The panel is composed of three members chosen by the Board of Supervisors and four people selected by the mayor. 

Breed had initially opposed the commission approved by voters last November, saying it would add another layer of bureaucracy to the city’s haphazard response to homelessness.

— Dana Bartholomew

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