State of Emergency

Residents of San Francisco say that with more homeless people living and dying on the streets, the city is in a state of emergency.

Now the Board of Supervisors is poised to make that official.

The board’s Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee on March 24 agreed to declare “the existence of a shelter crisis” and send that declaration to the full board, where it is expected to pass.

The health and safety of homeless San Franciscans is in danger, according to Supervisor David Campos’ ordinance. Under California law, San Francisco could put new Navigation Centers — low-threshold shelters to transition people into housing — on the fast track and bypass city building and zoning laws to do so.

The declaration would liken homelessness to emergencies following natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes. And the homeless emergency has been ongoing and man-made, said several community members who spoke during the public comment portion.

“The minute people hit the streets, it’s an emergency,” a speaker who identified himself as Domino said.

The continuing crisis came to a head last month when The Department of Public Works and other agencies swept an encampment along Division Street, forcing about 300 people to relocate, some to neighboring streets in the Mission District.

The legislation calling for the state of emergency references the American Psychological Association’s findings of higher hospitalization rates and mental illness among homeless people. It also cites estimates from the city’s 2015 homeless count of an aging population: 22 percent are between ages 51 and 60, and 8 percent are over 60. In the same report, two-thirds report a disabling health condition.

Under the emergency declaration, the city would allow homeless people to occupy designated buildings.“The City and County of San Francisco owns 1,800 to 2,200 pieces of property,” he said. “I believe we could find six for a Navigation Center.”

So far, the one at 1950 Mission Street — which accommodates 75 people — has been the only center operating. Three weeks earlier at a Budget and Finance Committee hearing, Campos took Sam Dodge, Mayor Ed Lee’s homelessness czar, to task when Dodge said that a second Navigation Center wouldn’t be ready for another six months.

Since then, Campos has called for three new centers to open, including one for young adults up to age 29, as well as others that allow harm reduction techniques for people undergoing substance abuse.

Also, Lee announced the opening of a second Navigation Center at the Civic Center Hotel, a single resident-occupied hotel which would house 93 people on 12th and Market streets. It’s expected to open in June.

Supervisor Norman Yee added an amendment stating that the declaration wouldn’t preclude any public notice or community outreach on the opening of any Navigation Centers.

The city would join Los Angeles; Seattle; Portland, Oregon; and the state of Hawaii in declaring emergencies in their respective jurisdictions.

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U.S. CITIES AND STATES DECLARING EMERGENCIES

Portland, Oregon - allocated $30 million in homeless services and $67 million in affordable housing projects over next five years

Los Angeles - authorized shelters to operate in certain areas of city

State of Hawaii - allocated $1.3 million for family shelters

Seattle/Kings County, Washington - open 100 new shelter beds; request for rental vouchers from federal government