A Publication of the Coalition on Homelessness
by Amanda Wheelock
The San Francisco City Planning Commission voted in favor of increasing the city’s Jobs Housing Linkage Fee following a hearing on September 19, where members of the community voiced their support for updating the fee during public comment.
The Jobs-Housing Linkage Fee, enacted by the city in 1996, is placed on businesses and corporations developing new facilities in San Francisco that increase the city’s overall commercial office space by 25,000 or more total square feet.
Hosted by Meghan “Roadkill” Johnson
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by Tracey Mixon
Recently, San Francisco has decided to add two new navigation centers, scheduled to open up later this year, in the Embarcadero and the Bayview. Both of these sites have strong opposition. The Embarcadero SAFE Navigation Center has been at the center of controversy since its inception. It was approved by the San Francisco Port Commission in April of this year, despite an appeal by Embarcadero residents that was denied. These residents have now gone on to file a lawsuit and temporary restraining order to block it from being built.
By TJ Johnston
A woman who is probably experiencing homelessness was struck by a driver in the Bayview District, an eyewitness said.
Kyle Borland, a freelance publicist who lives in the neighborhood, recounted an apparent road-rage incident near Third Street and Wallace Avenue last month on Twitter.
“Holy shit! This driver just TURNED AROUND to hit a homeless woman twice in front of our apartment,” he posted on August 18.
Reprint from NextCity/Street Spirit
by Sarah Holder
The decision to leave home wasn’t easy for Greyson. After his mother was deported to Mexico, he’d been almost single-handedly taking care of his two younger sisters and his father, who was addicted to drugs. When he was 15, the family made plans to move from California’s East Bay down to Mexico, too. As a trans person, Greyson was scared. He had heard horror stories of beatings and assaults of LGBTQ people.
by Darnell Boyd
Why did S.F. officials intentionally leave 45 beds meant for people with mental health issues empty? How dare they leave our most vulnerable population on the streets? They had 45 beds, yet they complained about homeless people screaming in Union Square, Market Street and Sixth Street. These officials went home to their comfortable beds every night for months knowing that there are 45 warm beds that is sitting empty and staff lied about those beds.
by Ian James
8.28.19
On July 26, 2019, ten district supervisors voted to establish the Downtown Community Benefit District. It became San Francisco’s newest Business Improvement District (BID), and it will receive over $83,000,000 in property assessments from the City and County of San Francisco over the next 15 years. The money will not be spent according to any city budget. Instead, it will be spent according to a district management plan that was proposed by just 30 property owners,
by Meghan “ Roadkill” Johnson
Unhoused people are constantly being stereotyped and discriminated against all over the nation, usually by people that have never had to sleep on the street or seek shelter, ever. San Francisco is no exception.
It has become a common practice amongst housed people to repeat misinformation about unhoused people for one simple reason: they know nothing about the obstacles these people face on a daily basis.
by Sam Lew
On August 22, over 100 health care workers, community members, and public health advocates showed up to the Behavioral Health Center’s Adult Residential Facility (ARF) to protest the displacement of those who are mentally ill from the facility.
The ARF is a board and care facility that houses the City’s most vulnerable clients who have serious and persistent mental illnesses and cannot live independently. Residents of the ARF may be unable to prepare their own food,
by Jennifer Friedenbach
Handouts are nice
Organizing is nicer
Unity is preferred
Solidarity is required
I am nothing without us
No person can be excluded
God will not craft justice
It will take all of us fighting together
Social justice cannot wait
All of us are
Hurt when one of us are suffering
Unless we want blood on our hands
Many of us must take action
And do what is necessary
Nothing can stop us
Rising up
Instilling hope
Getting what is ours
Housing for all peoples
Treatment on demand
