What the numbers tell us about homelessness in San Francisco

THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 650 THOUSAND HOMELESS PEOPLE LIVING IN THE U.S.

AND WHEN TALKING ABOUT THE HOMELESS CRISIS IN AMERICA – CALIFORNIA IS ONE STATE TO FOCUS ON — AS IT IS HOME TO NEARLY A THIRD OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION.

AND TO GET AN EVEN CLOSER LOOK AT THE ISSUE – YOU CAN ZOOM IN ON THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO WHICH HAS BECOME KNOWN FOR ITS HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS — ENCAMPMENTS THAT ARE DWINDLING IN NUMBERS.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO EFFORTS TO SOLVE HOMELESSNESS –  THE NUMBERS TELL THE STORY.

TWO THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND TEN (2,910) – THAT’S THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SLEEPING OUTDOORS IN SAN FRANCISCO – ACCORDING TO A FEDERAL COUNT TAKEN IN JANUARY – A 13 PERCENT DECREASE FROM 20-22 – AND THE LOWEST IN TEN YEARS.

SEVEN PERCENT – THAT’S HOW MUCH THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS HAS INCREASED SINCE 2022 – TO MORE THAN 8 THOUSAND PEOPLE.

SO WHILE THE OVERALL NUMBER OF HOMELESS PEOPLE IS INCREASING – THE NUMBER LIVING ON THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO IS DECREASING – THAT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO SEVERAL FACTORS.

39 PERCENT — THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE STAYING IN CITY SHELTERS SINCE 2019. THE CITY SAYS MORE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN SAN FRANCISCO ARE IN SHELTERS THAN EVER BEFORE.

1 – ONE SUPREME COURT DECISION IN JUNE THAT CLEARED THE WAY FOR CITIES TO ENFORCE BANS ON SLEEPING OUTDOORS IN PUBLIC PLACES.

ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED (1,200)  — THE NUMBER OF TENTS AND STRUCTURES CREWS HAVE REMOVED IN THE CITY

FOUR THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED (4,200) – THE NUMBER OF EMERGENCY SHELTER BEDS SAN FRANCISCO CURRENTLY HAS AVAILABLE FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS

FIVE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FIFTY (5,250)  – THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THE CITY SAYS IT HAS MOVED FROM HOMELESSNESS TO HOUSING FROM JULY 2023 TO JUNE 2024.

SINCE THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISION — MAYOR LONDON BREED HAS IMPLEMENTED A MORE AGGRESSIVE APPROACH TO TACKLING THE ISSUE OF HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS – INCLUDING GIVING POLICE AND CITY WORKERS MORE LEEWAY TO PREVENT ADDITIONAL TENTS FROM POPPING UP.

THAT BRINGS US TO THE NUMBER 150 – THE NUMBER OF CITATIONS CITY POLICE HAVE ISSUED FOR ILLEGAL LODGING SINCE AUGUST 1ST.

AND 40 PERCENT — THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY ARE FROM ANOTHER CALIFORNIA COUNTY OR OUT OF STATE – WHICH IS WHY BREEN IS ALSO FOCUSING ON THE CITY’S RELOCATION SERVICES — REUNITING THOSE LIVING ON THE STREET WITH THEIR FAMILIES OUTSIDE SAN FRANCISCO.

LOOKING BEYOND THE NUMBERS ARE THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES AND THE REASONS BEHIND THE HOMELESS CRISIS.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL LAW CENTER ON HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY SOME OF THE MAIN CAUSES THAT LEAD TO HOMELESSNESS IN MAJOR CITIES ARE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UNEMPLOYMENT, POVERTY, LOW WAGES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL ILLNESS, AND LACK OF NEEDED SERVICES.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.

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