Am I the only one who thinks....there are less homeless people in SF now!?

[bayarea-girl]

We had to base any funding on documentation. Which most of the case managers and therapist could not properly track. No never said it took away the reality of the situation. Actually many that aren't declared nuisances and take their meds are housed in the city under Newsom's plan and aren't considered homeless.

[hsw]

IMO, same homeless ratio as in late '90s; far worse homeless annoyance comparing upscale SF vs Manhattan but can easily drive self around SF (unlike Manhattan) from garage to garage or valet parking, so can avoid most of homeless

SF has worsened in past few yrs w/greater assault by sights/smells of excrement (pet/human/whatever) on sidewalks in residential/commercial areas, making driving around SF (even for a block or two vs walking) more of a necessity for a decent QOL

Ironically, would argue most pleasant, civilized walking anywhere in world is in downtown BevHills, not Manhattan or SF (or anywhere in EU (crappy cold/slushy or hot/humid weather))

[trunky]

Some recent news on the topic of homelessness in SF:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, July 17, 2009
Contact: Mayor's Office of Communications

MAYOR NEWSOM ANNOUNCES NEARLY $9 MILLION GRANTED TO SAN FRANCISCO TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS

Nearly $9 million granted to San Francisco under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to prevent homelessness

San Francisco, CA—Mayor Newsom today announced that the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has granted San Francisco $8.75 million
as part of their Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program within the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“These critical funds will assist an often-overlooked population by
investing in its future,” said Mayor Newsom. “Furthermore, keeping
individuals off the streets, and helping families get through hard times,
goes a long way in facilitating our economic recovery.”

The program stems from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which is
focused on jumpstarting the economy, creating and saving jobs and laying
the foundation for a robust, sustainable future. Part of this goal is
investing to prevent homelessness and facilitating the quick re-housing of
homeless people and eventually helping them to re-enter the labor market.

These funds will allow San Francisco to:

• Provide short term rent subsidies for homeless San Franciscans
• Expand eviction prevention funding/programs
• Improve outreach to those at risk of eviction with particular
attention to low-income neighborhoods and special needs populations
• Provide housing counseling assistance to renters who are victims of
eviction or are at risk of eviction
• Provide services (e.g. case management, financial management) to
renters who are victims of eviction or are at risk of eviction
• Provide legal services to renters who are victims of eviction or are
at risk of eviction

"This is money that will not only spare families the hardships of
homelessness, but will save taxpayers significant money in the long run,"
said Shaun Donovan, Secretary of HUD. "Often times, a little bit of
financial assistance can make all the difference between a stable home and
being forced to live in a shelter or on the streets."

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department’s new Homeless Prevention
and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) provides a total of $1.5 billion to
nearly 500 communities across the nation to provide short- and medium-term
rental assistance and services to either prevent individuals and families
from becoming homeless or help those who are experiencing homelessness to
be quickly re-housed and stabilized. The funding is provided through the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to help persons and families
facing a sudden financial crisis that could lead to homelessness. The City
of San Francisco is receiving $8,757,780.

Grants provided under HPRP are not intended to provide long-term support
for individuals and families, nor will they afford mortgage assistance to
homeowners facing foreclosure. Rather, HPRP offers a variety of short- and
medium-term financial assistance to those who would otherwise become
homeless, many due to sudden economic crisis. This can include short-term
rental assistance (up to three months), medium-term rental assistance (up
to 18 months), security deposits, utility deposits, utility payments,
moving cost assistance, and hotel vouchers. Payments will not be made
directly to households, but only to third parties, such as landlords or
utility companies.

[Joe_Ryder]

I don't know if there's any truth to it but I read somewhere that SF was buying them bus tickets to Portland. SF wouldn't be the first city to adopt that policy so I wouldn't be at all surprized.

[bayarea-girl]

I was researching this because I remember when the news was airing that CA was shipping homeless and welfare receipients to other states paying them up to $2500 to move. Now NY is doing it and many media outlets have been mentioning that CA has been doing this for some time now. I think that is why the presence of the homeless has decreased.

You guys can google it if you want found some articles about it but that it was interesting to note:
Homeless receive free one-way tickets out of Lancaster - Los Angeles Times
clevelandhomeless
City Aids Homeless With One-Way Tickets Home - Readers' Comments - NYTimes.com