Eric McCain, 54, was found dead inside his unit at the Jazzie Collins Apartments in the Mission on Nov. 16, 2025, after going several days without being seen by staff or family. His sister, Aisha McCain, says she repeatedly begged building staff to check on him and raced across the Bay Bridge when they told her they had not seen him. When firefighters finally entered the apartment, they found a body that had been decomposing for days.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Jazzie Collins staff last saw McCain during a routine pest-control visit 12 days before his body was discovered, and an independent investigator concluded that HomeRise employees failed to complete required wellness checks. The city's Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing subsequently sent a corrective action letter to HomeRise outlining required changes, according to records posted on DocumentCloud. HomeRise has said it retrained staff and increased supervision after the incident, the Chronicle reports.
Audit Flagged Money Woes and Staffing Turmoil
A 2024 audit by the City Controller found "gross fiscal noncompliance," flagging wasteful spending, weak financial controls and high turnover that strained services. The report reviewed loans, grants and subsidy arrangements and recommended stepped-up oversight to protect residents. Local coverage at the time by KQED noted large bonuses, questionable purchases and high vacancy rates across HomeRise sites.
Family Pushes for Accountability as Probe Begins
McCain’s sister has turned her grief into a months-long campaign for answers, bringing his ashes to public meetings and filing dozens of records requests as she presses city leaders. "I think my brother might be alive today," Aisha told the San Francisco Chronicle. The Chronicle also reported that at least three other HomeRise residents were found decomposing in their rooms since Jazzie Collins opened, and that the City Attorney's office has opened an investigation into the nonprofit.
Corrective Orders and What Comes Next
HSH's corrective action letter, available on DocumentCloud, directed HomeRise to overhaul its wellness-check procedures, increase training and implement technology to better track staff outreach to tenants. The letter requires a corrective-action plan and a timeline for implementation. HomeRise operates dozens of supportive housing sites, including Jazzie Collins, and, according to HomeRise, is conducting internal reviews to improve checks and recordkeeping.
Why Oversight, Not Just Buildings, Matters
Permanent supportive housing can reduce emergency psychiatric visits and shelter use, but the benefits hinge on consistent services, steady staffing and reliable outreach by on-site teams. A randomized trial by UCSF on permanent supportive housing found improved engagement with mental health services and lower shelter use, evidence, researchers say, that shows housing must be paired with dependable supports. City officials now face pressure to translate audits and corrective letters into enforceable safeguards that protect residents in San Francisco's growing supportive-housing stock.
