Lurie looks to overhaul SF's homelessness response
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Mayor Daniel Lurie at a press conference in February. Photo: Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Mayor Daniel Lurie unveiled sweeping reforms Monday for San Francisco's ongoing effort to help get people off the streets.
Why it matters: The new executive directive, Lurie's first comprehensive policy roadmap tackling the homelessness crisis, aims to streamline services and ensure better management of funds.
Driving the news: In the 100 days after it takes effect, the city will restructure its street teams into neighborhood-based groups charged with enforcement, treatment and cleaning responsibilities. The move is a response to claims of bloat in its current model, which consists of 10 teams across multiple departments.
- Officials will also deploy emergency vouchers for interim housing and reassess harm reduction policies, including the distribution of fentanyl-smoking supplies in public, a practice that aims to prevent overdose but faces criticism for enabling addiction.
- They'll further change criteria for cash aid in the general assistance program to require applicants to have lived in the city for at least 15 days, part of a bid to address concern that the city has become an attraction for people who want to access drug markets and city services.
- Other changes include adding 1,500 shelter beds and improving data systems.
What they're saying: "This directive will break the cycle of homelessness, addiction and government failure by transforming our homelessness and behavioral health response ... [and] bringing a new era of accountability," Lurie said in a news release.
The other side: "The crippling housing crisis and resulting homelessness crisis cannot be remedied if we do not provide affordable housing," the Coalition on Homelessness said in a written statement.
- "We urge Mayor Lurie to redirect to substantive strategies of care ... to ditch the tried and failed enforcement policies, to address the rise in family homelessness and to provide San Franciscans pathways to permanent housing."
State of play: Roughly two people die from overdose every day in San Francisco, according to the mayor's office.
- More than 8,000 people experience homelessness on a given night, per the 2024 homelessness "point in time" count.
- Meanwhile, chronic homelessness increased by 11% in the last five years.
- Though this year's count found that more residents than in previous years said they became homeless while living in another California county, 59% of respondents said they were last housed in San Francisco.
Between the lines: The city has largely struggled to meet the needs of its homeless population, with many service providers and shelter operators reporting limited resources, and it continues to face allegations of violating unhoused people's rights, including destroying their property, during encampment sweeps.
- A 2023 audit found that rapid rollout of new street teams during the pandemic led to inconsistent public messaging, a high volume of coordination meetings and siloed data systems and a lack of data-sharing.
- Experts and advocates have emphasized that permanent housing is the only real long-term solution.
What we're watching: The directive builds on Lurie's fentanyl state of emergency ordinance and his plans for a 24/7 police-friendly stabilization center.
- He also announced a new pilot earlier this month to provide more coordinated support to families on the brink of homelessness in partnership with Tipping Point Community, the nonprofit he founded in 2005.
Editor's note: This story has been update to include comments from the Coalition on Homelessness.