City Hall Archives - Page 13 of 48 - San Francisco Public Press

Chris Block speaks at a podium in front of a projector screen

City Hall, Coronavirus, Government & Politics, Homelessness, Housing

SF Creates New Office Tasked With Relocating Homeless Hotel Residents

by Nuala Bishari March 19, 2021March 20, 2021

A new city agency, founded in the wake of rising concerns about the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing’s ability to house the city’s homeless population, aims to bring 2,000 people into permanent shelter by the end of the year.

The new Office of Housing Opportunities will be a division of the COVID Command Center, shifting responsibilities away from the Department of Homelessness. Chris Block, formerly the director of the chronic homelessness division at Tipping Point, a nonprofit focused on battling poverty and homelessness, is directing the effort.

A homeless person sits under a blanket next to a cluster of tents in the Tenderloin May 13. Noah Arroyo / San Francisco Public Press

“Civic” Podcast, City Hall, Coronavirus, Health, Homelessness

Hygiene, Hotels, Housing: One Year of SF Pandemic Homelessness Policy

by Laura Wenus March 16, 2021March 16, 2021

Two reporters who have been covering the city’s response to homelessness during the pandemic for the San Francisco Public Press, Brian Howey and Nuala Bishari, reflect with “Civic” on a year of stories about seizing belongings, COVID-19 testing, hotel policy and supportive housing.

People living on the streets of San Francisco, like the residents of these tents, will have a higher likelihood of accessing housing due to a new ordinance.

City Hall, Coronavirus, Government & Politics, Health, Homelessness, Housing, News

Hundreds More Homeless People Could Get Housing Under Emergency Policy

by Nuala Bishari March 2, 2021March 2, 2021

More than 600 people living on San Francisco’s streets could soon get placed in permanent supportive housing.

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved an emergency ordinance that lifts restrictions on
who can access this type of shelter, which includes services like mental health and substance use treatment and employment assistance.

Abigail Stewart-Kahn, interim director of San Francisco's Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing.

City Hall, Coronavirus, Health, Homelessness, Housing

Advocates Press SF to Fill Supportive Housing Vacancies With People Living on Streets

by Nuala Bishari February 25, 2021February 25, 2021

San Francisco should move people living on the streets to the top of the list for permanent supportive housing, advocates and service providers said Tuesday.

The current system of setting aside all available housing units specifically for homeless people living in shelter-in-place hotels is not proving effective, advocates and city officials said at a hearing of the Board of Supervisors’ Budget and Finance committee.

The recently renovated Minna Hotel is one of several for sale in San Francisco, which has been notified by more than 70 hotels that they would be willing to sell it their properties.

City Hall, Coronavirus, Economy & Business, Government & Politics, Health, Homelessness, Housing

70 Hotels Could House the Homeless, if San Francisco Buys

by Nuala Bishari February 18, 2021February 19, 2021

More than 70 hotel owners have said they are willing to sell their properties to San Francisco, and now is the perfect time to buy some of them, homelessness activists said at a press conference Wednesday.

“Civic” Podcast, City Hall, Government & Politics

To Build Trust, New City Administrator Carmen Chu Wants Transparency, Investment in Economy

by Laura Wenus February 17, 2021February 19, 2021

Chu, who had been the city’s assessor-recorder since 2013, joined “Civic” to discuss her plans for charting a path forward in difficult times. To rebuild public trust in city government, she said, public officials must demonstrate that they are acting on her promises, while being candid about any missteps.

“Civic” Podcast, City Hall, Economy & Business

SF Poised to Work on Blueprint for Creating a Public Bank

by Laura Wenus February 15, 2021February 16, 2021

Jackie Fielder, co-founder of the San Francisco Public Bank Coalition, talked with “Civic” about a proposal that would create a working group to chart a path toward a public bank in San Francisco.

The Seneca Hotel, which offers permanent supportive housing for homeless people, has 27 vacant rooms.

City Hall, Coronavirus, Health, Homelessness, Housing

1 in 10 SF Housing Units for Homeless Sit Vacant

by Nuala Bishari February 12, 2021February 12, 2021

Nearly one in every 10 of San Francisco’s permanent supportive housing units — earmarked for people experiencing homelessness — is now sitting empty. The number of vacant units has climbed 58% since September and now represents 9.9% of the permanent supportive housing stock.

The Buena Vista Inn, pictured, has served as one of more than two dozen San Francisco hotels used to shelter homeless people who are over 65 or have health risks.

City Hall, Coronavirus, Economy & Business, Government & Politics, Health, Homelessness

FEMA to Retroactively Fund All Shelter-in-Place Hotel Costs

by Nuala Bishari February 3, 2021February 3, 2021

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will retroactively reimburse states 100% of the cost for shelter-in-place hotels, dating back to January 2020, the White House announced Tuesday.

The announcement comes less than two weeks after the Biden administration pledged to fully fund hotels used to house homeless people over 65 or with compromised health going forward. Previously, municipalities were responsible for 25% of the costs.

Category: City Hall