Dorsey pushes an end to Housing First-and an end to controls on government spying - 48 hills

"It's unlikely that Prop. C, which has brought in $1 billion in taxes on big business to help house people living on the streets, would ever have existed without Friedenbach. There is no indication that she has been anything but a huge asset to the committee; in fact, former Sup. abnd homeless services director Bevan Dufty told the supes he might resign from the committee if Friedenbach were replaced."

"Dorsey has made clear that he wants to limit new city money to affordable housing projects unless they mandate sobriety. That's in direct opposition to the housing-first approach that has been considered the state of the art in building and operating supportive housing at the local, state, and (until recently) federal level. "Housing First" starts with the assumption that people with substance use issues are unlikely to get sober if they are living on the streets, and that the most important step is to get them indoors in a stable situation."

"Most people who seek treatment for substance use issues fail in their first efforts at sobriety. For some, it takes multiple tries. Dorsey, who has made no secret of his recovery issues, was one of them: During the pandemic, while working for the SFPD, he relapsed and started taking drugs again."

Supervisors Rafael Mandelman and Matt Dorsey are advancing a policy preference that prioritizes sobriety requirements over the Housing First model for addressing homelessness in San Francisco. The Prop. C Oversight Committee seat held by Jennifer Friedenbach was replaced by Billy Lemon, who runs the Castro Country Club, a sober community space serving mostly LGBTQ people. Prop. C has generated $1 billion in taxes from large businesses to fund housing. Former supervisor and homeless services director Bevan Dufty warned he might resign if Friedenbach were removed. The board appointed Lemon by an 8-2 vote. Dorsey seeks to limit new city funds to affordable housing projects that mandate sobriety, a stance that contrasts with Housing First principles which prioritize immediate stable housing for people with substance use issues. Many people attempting sobriety fail initially, and people living on the streets often lack stable housing and support networks that can aid recovery.

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