SAN FRANCISCO, CA — San Francisco has long branded itself as a sanctuary for its most vulnerable residents, but a new wave of city budget cuts is putting that reputation to the test. Two critical lifelines for the city’s transition-age youth—the Michael Baxter Larkin Street Clinic and the Cole Street Youth Clinic—are slated to permanently close their doors this summer.
The news has sent shockwaves through the Tenderloin and Haight-Ashbury neighborhoods, leaving both healthcare providers and patients questioning the city’s priorities.
A Lifeline in the Tenderloin
Sophia Padilla has spent nearly three years on the front lines at the Michael Baxter Larkin Street Clinic. The facility specifically serves youth between the ages of 18 and 25, a demographic that often falls through the cracks of the traditional healthcare system.
For many of her clients, including queer and transgender youth, the clinic is more than just a place for a checkup; it is a “one-stop shop” that integrates physical health with behavioral resources and housing support provided by Larkin Street Youth Services.
“It’s important to speak out for the youth whose access to these things are being taken away, reduced, and honestly said to be unimportant,” Padilla told CBS News Bay Area. She noted that the clinic’s location in the Tenderloin is strategic, meeting youth exactly where the need is highest.
The Human Cost of “Position Reductions”
The impact of the closure is best understood through patients like 22-year-old Alyana Perez. A San Francisco native, Perez has relied on the Larkin Street clinic since she was 18. She described the facility as a “safe space” in a medical landscape that is often daunting and confusing for young people.
“They just break it down to you and make you feel like you’re safe and comfortable,” Perez said. “Without those clinics, I could really see a lot of young individuals struggling to even know where do you even sign up? Where to go?”
With the shuttering of these two locations, only a handful of dedicated youth clinics will remain, including New Generations Health Center, Balboa Teen Health Center, and Third Street Youth Center and Clinic. Advocacy groups worry these remaining sites will be overwhelmed by the influx of displaced patients.
The Battle at City Hall
While the Department of Public Health (DPH) frames these closures as necessary “position reductions” due to the city’s budget deficit, community members are refusing to let the decision pass quietly.
A Health Commission hearing held on Monday afternoon served as a flashpoint for this frustration. While the Commission has already technically approved the FY26-28 budget, the public is now looking toward the Board of Supervisors. The final votes on the city budget are scheduled for June 11 and June 26, 2026.
For Padilla, the fight is personal. Though she has been relocated to a nearby hospital for work, she remains committed to the youth she serves. “Cutting the budget, removing programs, and closing clinics doesn’t really align with [San Francisco’s values],” she said.
How Will This Affect Your Neighborhood?
The loss of these clinics could lead to increased emergency room visits and a decrease in preventative care for SF youth.
We want to hear from you, San Francisco:
- Do you think the city is making a mistake by cutting youth health budgets?
- Should the Board of Supervisors intervene before the final June vote?
- Have you or someone you know relied on the Cole Street or Larkin Street clinics?
Share your story in the comments below to let the city know how these closures impact our community.
