SF: The Government’s Housing & Homeless Programs
Current Statistics and Events of Homelessness in San Francisco
Statistics
Total: 7,754
Sheltered: 3,357
Unsheltered: 4,397
- 3.5% of the homeless population decreased in San Francisco from 2019 to 2022.
- Unsheltered homelessness decreased by 19% from 2019 to 2022 whilst there was an increase in sheltered homelessness by 18%.
- There was an 11% decrease in chronically homeless people from 3,030 people in 2019 to 2,691 people in 2022.
- Chronically homeless people refer to people who have been homeless for at least a year while going through mental health, substance abuse, or disability issues.
Current Events
- The SF HSH (San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing) has a calendar online showing all upcoming events and meetings regarding homelessness and supportive housing. This calendar can be seen here: https://hsh.sfgov.org/calendar/.
- The San Francisco Chronicle published an article about Mayor London Breed and the city’s attorney is currently in an ongoing lawsuit by homeless advocates about the city’s response to unhoused people who refuses shelter offers and encampments. This article can be read here: https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/s-f-mayor-breed-rejects-allegations-lawsuit-18191036.php.
- The San Francisco Chronicle also published another article about the story of how a shelter in San Francisco was on the verge of shutting down but with the help of donations, they were able to keep the shelter open. The city funds the shelter to stay open. This article can be read here: https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/sf-homelessness-families-oasis-inn-purchase-18171764.php.
Conclusion
From the statistics, we can tell the city is making an effort to reduce the homeless population and trying to find more shelters to put unsheltered people in. Although there is still a lot of work to do, it’s good to know the city acknowledges this issue and is positively impacting the community.
Citations
- City performance scorecards. Homeless Population | City Performance Scorecards. (n.d.). https://sfgov.org/scorecards/safety-net/homeless-population#:~:text=Number%20of%20People%20Experiencing%20Homelessness%20during%20each%20PIT%20Count%2C%202005%2D2022,-0K%202K%204K&text=Under%20the%202022%20PIT%20Count,homeless%20population%20from%202019%20%E2%80%93%202022
- Point-in-Time and Housing Inventory Counts. SF HSH. (n.d.). https://hsh.sfgov.org/about/research-and-reports/pit-hic/#2022-pit
Government and Affordable Housing
Government Housing
Government housing programs can help address homeless people and provide support for people and families in need. These programs help people gain stability and rebuild their lives. Some ways government housing can help people experiencing homelessness:
Emergency Shelters - The government provides a safe and temporary place for the homeless. The shelters provide basic amenities and services.
Transitional Housing - This type of housing provides a temporary place that provides services to help people to go from homeless to stable housing. It may also come with services to address the problems that lead to homelessness.
Permanent Supportive Housing - Comes with supportive services that address issues and the needs of homeless to help them become more stable. (Mental health treatment, counselling, etc.)
Public Housing - Managed and funded by the government to provide housing to low income families and individuals.
Affordable Housing
The Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing will get $67.4 million over the next two years according to an agreement between Mayor Breed and the Board of Supervisors. The funds will be utilized to address staffing and maintenance issues in currently operating supportive housing. Voters approved Proposition C in November, creating the committee that would be in charge of managing the homeless department. The department has a $672 million budget for the financial years 2022–2023 and 2023–2024. Nearly 300 new homes are being built by the government to house those who are experiencing homelessness.
Homelessness:
Getting access to food services
Homelessness is already a major problem in this city, so we already provide many services that help the homeless, including services involving the distribution of food. But there are some services that could furtherly benefit those who can’t obtain food as well as most of us can, as well as some services that we could consider having more of.
Potential Government Programs
Emergency Food Services: Establish or support local food banks, soup kitchens, and shelters that provide free meals to the homeless. These services can offer regular meals, distribute food packages, and collaborate with local businesses, supermarkets, and restaurants to collect surplus food. These services may be found in San Francisco, but having more of these services can be very beneficial to the homeless population.
Mobile Food Programs: Deploy mobile food vans or trucks to reach areas with high homeless populations. These vehicles can provide nutritious meals and snacks directly to homeless individuals in different locations, ensuring greater accessibility.
Food Rescue Programs: Collaborate with local businesses, restaurants, and supermarkets to establish food rescue programs. These initiatives collect excess or unsold food that would otherwise go to waste and distribute it to homeless shelters or food banks.
Education and Support: Offer educational programs that focus on nutrition, food budgeting, and cooking skills specifically tailored for homeless individuals. These programs can empower them to make healthier choices and utilize available resources effectively. Being knowledgeable of these topics can go a long way in helping homeless individuals stay healthy.
Volunteering and Donations: Encourage individuals and communities to volunteer their time or donate resources to organizations working to combat food insecurity. This can involve preparing and serving meals, collecting food donations, or supporting fundraising efforts. While such programs are found in San Francisco, we encourage more people to participate in these programs.
San Francisco: Resources For Housing & Homelessness
San Francisco has programs and initiatives aimed at creating and preserving affordable housing options for its residents. These programs provide financial assistance, subsidies, and incentives to developers to build affordable housing projects.
The city has implemented various initiatives to address homelessness, including emergency shelters, supportive housing, and programs that provide case management, counselling, and job assistance to help individuals transition from homelessness to stable housing situations
The city has rent stabilisation laws, also known as rent control, which limit rent increases and provide stability to tenants. There are also tenant protection measures in place to prevent eviction without just cause and ensure fair treatment of renters.
San Francisco offers programs that provide financial assistance to low-income residents through rent subsidies, rental assistance, and public housing programs. These services aim to support individuals and families who may be struggling to afford housing in the city.
The city provides housing counseling services to help residents understand their rights, navigate the housing market, and access affordable housing options. These services may include workshops, one-on-one counseling, and assistance with financial planning and budgeting.
San Francisco offers resources and services to address housing discrimination and promote fair housing practices. This includes assistance in filing complaints, conducting fair housing investigations, and advocating for equal housing opportunities for all residents.
Ideas To Improve Housing In: San Francisco
Preserve Rent- Controlled Units
Strengthen rent control policies to protect tenants from excessive rent increases and provided long-term stability
Enforce strict penalties for landlords who violate rent control regulations to engage in unlawful evictions
Expand Inclusionary Housing policies
Increases the percentage of affordable housing units required in new developments through inclusionary zoning policies
Implementing a “linkage fee” that requires developers to contribute to an affordable housing fund.
Support Small-Scale
Promote the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and streamline the permitting process to encourage homeowners to add secondary units to their properties
Establish a program to provide financial assistance for homeowners who create ADUs for long-term affordable rentals
Streamline the Approval Process
Create a dedicated task force or department to fast-track the approval process for housing developments, reducing bureaucratic delays and costs
Implement online permitting systems to simplify the application process and improve efficiency
Incentivize Affordable Housing Development
Offer financial incentives, such as tax breaks or subsidies, to developers who include a certain percentage of affordable housing units in their projects
Provide grants to nonprofit organizations and community land trusts to acquire and develop affordable housing
Utilize Underulizted Spaces
Identify vacant lots, parking areas, or underused buildings for redevelopment into affordable housing units.
Allow for the conversion of commercial buildings into mixed-use developments with residential componets.