San Francisco launches long-term plans to target homeless people

San Francisco officials have announced a new “broken cycle” of homelessness plans aimed at tackling the city’s growing homeless population and behavioral health crisis.

“We believe our cities must be judged by how we care for our most vulnerable residents. Today we outline immediate action and long-term reforms to deal with the city’s crisis,” Lurie said in a statement.

The mayor said he expects an order that breaks the cycle of homelessness, addiction and government failure in the homelessness and behavioral health response.

“My administration is bringing about a new era of accountability, and it will result in people stabilizing from the streets,” he said.

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This number has increased by 572 since 2022, representing an increase of around 7.4%. Counting is done every two years.

The mayor said the majority, or 51 percent of San Francisco’s large population, suffer from mental health issues, addiction, or both.

Homeless families are the fastest growing segment of the population, almost doubled since 2022, the mayor said.

“As a city, our systems are failing. If we don’t at least try to fix these failed systems, we can’t point our fingers at someone else when nothing changes,” he said.

He said the city’s existing health, homelessness and family services programs are fragmented.

“Programs tend to develop in departmental silos without integrating data-driven decisions strongly,” writes Lurie in order.

As a result, the city’s programs were replicated and split apart, and missed opportunities for intervention.

This directive outlines the framework for “transforming the system” by adding accountability, integrated service delivery and caring and responsible management.

In short, the programme’s goal is to create a system that helps people find lasting stability, clean sidewalks, make them safer, and create responsible governance and accountable services.

All urban sectors were instructed to achieve several goals.

The city plans to launch a new street team model within 100 days to promote neighborhood-based enforcement, service and treatment and cleaning goals. They are also expected to invest in prevention and emergency situations to keep people up before they become homeless.

Staff need to be ready to create emergency vouchers to help people find a home quickly, the order says.

Lurie also directed the city to reevaluate policies that allow them to distribute fentanyl smoking supplies in public places and refocus on access to long-standing programs, including clean needle exchanges and linking people to treatment and recovery.

Over the course of six months, the city has set several goals, including expanding its short-term housing capacity with 1,500 beds, adding emergency shelters, hotel vouchers, transitional housing, stabilization centres, recovery and solemn housing, and housing treatment.

Officials hope to maximize the state’s health insurance and housing funds in a year to expand and improve services and take other actions to reform the program.

Several nonprofits serving the homeless population placed emphasis on new plans on Monday.

“Mayor Lurie’s plan gives me hope that people who struggle like my son will ultimately get real help in rebuilding their lives,” said Tanya Tillman, his mother’s co-founder of drug addiction and death. “When you’re ready to turn things around, no one needs to wait for treatment or shelter.”

Tramecia Garner, executive director of Swords at Plowshares, an advocacy group supporting veterans, also wanted to work with the mayor on the new program.

“Expanding treatment capabilities and treatment beds to meet the increased clinical needs and increase the flow of charitable support will help meet the complex needs of veterans facing mental health and substance use challenges,” she said in a statement.