City native Victoria Ortiz’s path to homelessness began in the East Bay more than two years ago when she was pregnant, working at a Staples and subletting a room. A housemate stopped forwarding the rent to the landlord, and everyone was evicted. This is the story of her determination to find stable housing for her family while living at a shelter in San Francisco.
Category: Social Services
Posted inHomelessness Solutions: Part 2, Housing, Media, Social Justice, Social Services
Rebuttal to Beyond Chron Criticism of Public Press Report on Residential Hotel Vacancies
Last week on his blog, Beyond Chron, Tenderloin Housing Clinic Executive Director Randy Shaw belatedly referred to my Fall 2017 Public Press cover story about vacancies in single-room occupancy hotels as “extremely misleading” and “false.” I was disappointed, but not surprised. And I am not alone.
Posted inCommunity, Homelessness, Housing, LGBTQ+, Social Justice, Social Services, Solving Homelessness: Ideas for Ending a Crisis
Host Homes Could Get Young Adults Off Streets
San Francisco has the highest percentage of unsheltered youths in the nation — more than 1,200 between 18 and 24 years old, at last count. Host homes could get many off the streets. Would you welcome a homeless youth into your home?
Posted inCity Hall, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Social Services, Solving Homelessness: Ideas for Ending a Crisis
For Alcoholics, ‘Wet Houses’ Offer a Home
Studies have found that the 1811 Eastlake project in Seattle helps keep alcoholics off the streets and out of jails and emergency rooms — and even helps them drink less.
Posted inHealth, Homelessness, Labor, Social Services, Solving Homelessness: Ideas for Ending a Crisis
For Alcoholic Residents at Dann’s House, ‘It Feels Like Home’
On the outskirts of Traverse City, Michigan, Dann’s House provides supportive housing to eight alcoholic homeless men. Unlike most housing for the homeless, there’s no expectation that residents will stop drinking, even on-site. But their consumption is down, and their lives improved.
Posted inCity Hall, Economy & Business, Homelessness, Housing, Social Services, Solving Homelessness: Ideas for Ending a Crisis
How to Fill All the Empty SRO Rooms
Master leasing of single-room occupancy hotels in San Francisco has housed thousands of homeless people — and done so in hotels that are, by and large, a huge improvement over those of a generation ago. But hings could be better.
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, Aging, Elections, Health, Social Services
Proposition I: Creating a ‘Dignity Fund’ for Services for Seniors and Disabled Adults
This Charter amendment would create a “Dignity Fund” dedicated to annual, mandatory spending on services for seniors and adults with disabilities.
The Board of Supervisors voted 9-2 to put this initiative on the ballot.
Posted inBay Area, Community, Education, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Labor, Media, Public Safety, Social Justice, Social Services
How Media Coverage on Homelessness Falls Short (And What Reporters Can Do About It)
In many newsrooms, “the homeless” is a well-worn catchphrase for the often-anonymous people on the street or in shelters. But many professionals who work with these populations on a daily basis find the term offensive and misleading.