The story of Box City reflects the city’s shifting approach to homeless encampments and the impact on their residents. Many believed the navigation centers — touted as a model of moving people from “street to home” — would lead to long-term housing. But they were left demoralized and jaded about the government’s ability to help them.
Category: Homelessness
Posted inNavigating Homelessness: Which Way Home?, News
A Legacy of Criminalizing Transience and Homelessness
The California Legislature enacted the state’s first anti-vagrant statutes in the mid-19th century, targeting Native Americans and Mexican-Americans. Since then, policymakers and voters have regularly acted to rid city streets of people who are homeless or indigent. This brief timeline highlights some key years and actions.
Posted inNavigating Homelessness: Which Way Home?, News
‘Quality of Life’ Citations at Record Lows
As San Francico police respond to more calls for “quality of life” volations, citations have declined sharply in recent years, and the courts have been throwing out warrants for violations, quietly decriminalizing homelessness citywide, an analysis of city records shows.
Posted inAging, Homelessness, Housing, Navigating Homelessness: Which Way Home?
As Shelter Wait Times Soar, Older Homeless in Limbo Daily
The wait time for an emergency shelter bed for homeless San Franciscans has hit a record high, as growing demand outstrips availability, city records show. Among those waiting weeks on the list recently were someone 97 years old and three people in their 80s.
Posted inCity Hall, Community, Homelessness, Housing, Media, Navigating Homelessness: Which Way Home?, Transportation
More Homeless Returning to Streets From Navigation Centers
Two years after the city launched its navigation centers, fewer than a quarter of the nearly 1,200 people who have passed through have been placed in verified long-term housing, and more are returning to the streets, an analysis of city records shows. The most common outcome is a one-way bus ticket to another city.
Posted inFrom the Newsroom, Navigating Homelessness: Which Way Home?, News
From the Editors: A City in Flux
In the Summer 2017 issue of the San Francico Public Press, we examine the city’s efforts to help homeless people through initiatives in place for years and ones that are expanding under the new Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. Some are experimental, which can be challenging for the people seeking services and for those trying to administer them while working out policy kinks.
Posted inHomelessness, Housing, Social Services
How Pacific Northwest Cities Have Made Space for Homeless Encampments
San Francisco officials have been skeptical of sanctioning homeless encampments as transitional housing, but local activists note that the model has a long track record in Seattle, Portland and Eugene, Ore.
Posted inCommunity, Elections, Homelessness, News, Social Services
Lack of Shelter for Homeless Collides With Voters’ Wish to Clear Tent Encampments
San Francisco voters narrowly passed Proposition Q, creating new policies for how the city clears tent encampments where homeless people live. But that law may be a nonstarter, because there is virtually no indoor shelter available to get tent dwellers off city streets.
Posted in2016 Non-partisan Voter Guide, Arts & Culture, Elections, Homelessness
Proposition S: Paying for the Arts and Homeless Services with S.F. Hotel Tax
This ordinance would shift some of the city’s spending specifically to the arts and homeless services.
The initiative was placed on the ballot through verified petition signatures.
Posted in2016 Non-partisan Voter Guide, Elections, Homelessness
Proposition Q: Outlawing Tent Encampments on Sidewalks
This ordinance would make it illegal for people to pitch tents or similar shelters on city sidewalks.
This measure was placed on the ballot by Supervisors Malia Cohen, Mark Farrell, Katy Tang and Scott Wiener.