Last week marked the start of an aggressive effort to clear homeless encampments from the Mission, Potrero Hill and Lake Merced neighborhoods in San Francisco. The crackdown is the result of the June SCOTUS decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson. The ruling established that governments are constitutionally permitted to enforce anti-camping laws regardless of whether there is enough shelter.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed also issued an executive order Thursday prioritizing relocation services for unhoused individuals. That means outreach workers must offer transportation out of the city before offering other services such as shelter.
“We’ve made significant progress in housing many long-time San Franciscans who became homeless, but we are seeing an increase in people in our data who are coming from elsewhere. Today’s order will ensure that all our city departments are leveraging our relocation programs to address this growing trend,” Breed said in a press release.
January’s point-in-time survey showed 40% of unhoused San Franciscans are from outside California. Five years ago, the percentage was 28%.