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.
Category: Homelessness
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.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, California, Elections, Environment, Government & Politics, Homelessness, Housing, News, San Francisco March 2020 Nonpartisan Election Guide
Assembly Member Phil Ting Advocates for Electric Cars, Criminal Record Reform, Housing Investment
Assembly member Phil Ting represents District 19, having been elected to that seat in 2012.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, California, City Hall, Government & Politics, Homelessness, Housing, San Francisco March 2020 Nonpartisan Election Guide, Transportation
Housing, Homelessness Crises Are ‘Of Our Own Making,’ Says David Chiu
David Chiu, the state assembly member representing California’s District 17, the Eastern side of San Francisco, is running unopposed for re-election this year. He spoke with “Civic” about his recent legislative work.
Posted inCity Hall, Homelessness, Public Safety
Complaints From Neighbors Now Driving City’s Response to Homeless Camps
For the past year and a half, San Francisco has relied almost entirely on complaints from 311 — the city’s nonemergency customer service line — to address homeless encampments, leading to a sharp increase in the proportion of encampments labeled “removed” by city workers, a review of public records shows.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Homelessness, Housing, Transportation
Tent Counts Fluctuate, Vehicle Dweller Numbers Grow in S.F.
Even getting an accurate count of the number of tents and improvised structures is easier said than done, as the city’s counting methods have changed.