Dueling narratives from San Francisco politicians reflect a divide over not just how the city should care for its homeless population during the COVID-19 crisis, but also what kind of policies and financial support it should commit to for the longer term.
Category: Homelessness
Posted inCensus, Coronavirus, Homelessness, Housing
Coronavirus Pandemic Delays Census Count of Homeless
Before the coronavirus pandemic broke out, the United States was ramping up its biggest peacetime mobilization: the Census. A complete count of all people in the nation is taken every 10 years, but this year, the shelter-in-place and social distancing orders to curb the spread of COVID-19 have forced the Census Bureau to adapt its timeline for the count.
Posted inCoronavirus, Health, Homelessness
Moving S.F. Homeless Into Shelters Could Make Outbreaks More Likely, Experts Say
The city’s plan to move people living on the street into emergency homeless shelters could increase the chances of an outbreak inside those facilities, say public health experts, social workers, and homeless shelter residents.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, City Hall, Coronavirus, Health, Homelessness
San Francisco Grapples With Containing Coronavirus Among Homeless
With the Bay Area under a shelter-in-place order because of the coronavirus pandemic, people are being asked to stay home. But for those without housing, that is difficult.
Posted inCity Hall, Coronavirus, Homelessness
Coronavirus Shelter-in-Place Order Leaves Homeless With Nowhere to Go
San Francisco announced an order Monday that requires residents to stay at home to prevent the spread of coronavirus. But for homeless San Franciscans, “shelter in place” may be next to impossible. The health order exempts homeless San Franciscans, of whom more than 5,100 live unsheltered, but they are “strongly urged to obtain shelter.” However, San Francisco’s homeless response system has long been overburdened, even for resources like emergency shelter. As of March 16, the city’s shelter waitlist was 799 people — and may become even longer if shelters begin spacing beds apart to practice social distancing.
Posted inCity Hall, Coronavirus, Homelessness
Many San Francisco Emergency Handwashing Stations Broken, Empty, Missing
Stations were in a poor state, barely a week after they were installed to slow the spread of the coronavirus among the homeless. Officials pointed to overuse, as well as a private contractor that may have placed some stations in the wrong locations.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, City Hall, Coronavirus, Health, Homelessness
San Francisco Advises Homeless to Sleep One to a Tent During Coronavirus Pandemic
In an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus among the homeless, city officials are encouraging people on the streets to sleep only one to a tent and to keep at least six feet between tents.
Posted inCity Hall, Homelessness
During Coronavirus Outbreak S.F. Will Continue to Seize Homeless People’s Property
San Francisco will continue to confiscate belongings from people living in street encampments during the coronavirus outbreak, a Department of Public Works representative said, despite warnings from doctors and activists that the seizures may leave homeless people more vulnerable to the disease.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Homelessness
As City Changes Course on Homelessness, Nonprofit Leader Calls for Service-First Approach
San Francisco officials are planning to shift their approach to homelessness after reviewing data that show the current strategy – a complaint-driven system – isn’t actually getting people off the streets.
Posted inHomelessness
S.F. Shifts Strategy on Homeless Encampments, Moving Away From Complaint-Driven System
City officials Thursday pledged to abandon the current complaint-driven approach to addressing homeless encampments, saying it has been ineffective in moving large numbers of people from the streets into services and stable housing. Jeff Kositsky, director of the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, said that beginning in mid-March, the Healthy Streets initiative — the multi-agency coalition tasked with abating homelessness — would stop relying mostly on calls from neighbors through the city’s 311 hotline.