City Hall will step in to save art, nutrition, music appreciation and other classes for older adults in San Francisco, taking on the financial responsibility for the former City College of San Francisco courses, Mayor London Breed and several supervisors said Monday.

The plan will save about 17 of the 50 classes for seniors that were eliminated in the latest round of budget cuts at the college, where officials face a $13 million deficit.

Breed, with board President Norman Yee and four other supervisors, said the city will use $216,000 from the voter-approved Dignity Fund to pay for the courses this spring, while continuing to look for money to cover additional classes.

The restored classes, at least for the time being, will no longer be affiliated with City College.

“City College is having to make some tough choices to address ongoing structural financial issues, and while that is happening we can lessen the impact for our seniors who visit our community centers to enrich their lives,” Breed said in a statement. “Many of our older adults rely on these classes, which keep them active and connected to the community, and I’m glad we’re able to find a way to ensure that they can continue.”

The Dignity Fund, passed by city voters in 2016, supports services and programs for older adults and adults with disabilities. The funding for the courses will be available for at least the next three years, officials said.

Community organizations currently offer the classes to about 2,000 adults at senior centers and other locations across the city. Under the new funding scenario, responsibility for the classes will shift from City College to the organizations, which will take over hiring instructors and managing enrollment. The ongoing courses will continue to serve about 1,000 older adult students.

“With the senior population on the rise, San Francisco cannot afford losing the limited services we have for our aging adults,” Yee said in the statement.

College officials announced just before Thanksgiving that they would cut about 8% of classes for spring to cover the budget deficit. The elimination of 345 classes comes on top of 455 classes — 14% of offerings — dropped to close last year’s $32 million gap.

The Older Adults Program is free to participants, many in their 70s and 80s. Courses include tai chi, music, figure drawing, theater, literature and writing as well as computer skills.

The sudden cancellation of the courses shocked participants, many of whom relied on the program to combat loneliness.

Noting the cuts were necessary to sustain City College, officials there thanked Breed and the supervisors for their “leadership and creativity” regarding the programming for older adults.

“We appreciate their efforts, and look forward to continued discussions with the city and our community partners about long-term sustainable funding measures, while the college addresses its budget issues,” said Alex Randolph, president of the college’s Board of Trustees, in a statement.

More than 65,000 full- and part-time students attend City College. Since 2017, City College has gained the equivalent of 1,500 full-time students, and an $8.5 million infusion from the state. But the loss of students over the past decade far outweighs those gains. Since 2009, the equivalent of 21,800 full-time students has vanished — a loss of $95 million, public records show.

College officials said they hope to eventually restore funding for courses or programs lost in the cuts.

“Not only are older adults San Francisco’s fastest-growing age group, but they are living longer lives with more opportunities to remain engaged and active,” said Shireen McSpadden, executive director of the Department of Disability and Aging Services. “These classes help keep older residents involved in their community, but also benefit our city as well, by allowing us to draw on their experience, insight and knowledge.”

Staff writer Nanette Asimov contributed to this story.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker