Here's Why SF Homeless Advocates Are Glad Lurie Ditched Push for 1,500 Shelter Beds | KQED
Briefly

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is abandoning his commitment to open 1,500 new shelter beds within his first six months, managing only 400 beds thus far. This change signifies a response to advocates' concerns that merely increasing shelter beds doesn't adequately address homelessness and behavioral health issues. Lurie’s administration now aims to enhance the effectiveness of existing services rather than prioritize a specific bed count. Despite visible homelessness, it's suggested that the current strategy may not significantly reduce the unhoused population but could exacerbate pressures on shelters and available resources.
Currently, only 13% of individuals utilizing San Francisco's various shelter options successfully transition to permanent housing, indicating a significant gap in effective outcomes.
Advocates warn that investing heavily in short-term housing may not effectively address the complex issues surrounding homelessness and behavioral health in the city.
Mayor Lurie is prioritizing a shift toward enhancing service effectiveness over simply increasing the number of available shelter beds, acknowledging the limitations of his initial approach.
The approach to homelessness is increasingly viewed as needing better long-term solutions rather than a mere increase in temporary shelter capacity.
Read at Kqed
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