San Francisco Mayor London Breed revealed that 60% of homeless individuals offered shelter in November declined the opportunity, highlighting the ongoing challenges the city faces in addressing its homelessness crisis. The city’s Street Outreach encampment workers extended shelter offers to 350 homeless people last month, with 117 accepting and 213 refusing.
Despite the significant refusal rate, Mayor Breed noted that November showed some improvement compared to the previous month. In October, 65% of those contacted at encampments declined shelter, while in September, 60% refused. Mayor Breed emphasized the importance of enforcing laws related to encampments, stressing that they are in place to safeguard public health and safety.
The mayor shared specific examples to illustrate the refusal trend, such as an encampment at 15th Street and Julian Avenue where only four out of 14 people opted for shelter. Another instance involved an encampment at Larkin and Willow streets, where eight out of 19 individuals accepted the offer.
Acknowledging the persistent challenges, Mayor Breed highlighted the city’s commitment to offering assistance. The recent opening of 300 additional beds further strengthens their capacity to extend help. The focus remains on providing financial aid, relocation support, and housing options to help individuals transition out of homelessness.
Mayor Breed stressed the need to increase acceptance of assistance, especially due to the impact of illicit drugs on people’s lives and communities. The city plans to implement new conservatorship laws to compel people into receiving necessary treatment.
Our outreach workers will continue to offer shelter and support, affirmed Mayor Breed. We are determined to address the issues plaguing our streets, as drug-related concerns persistently undermine lives and neighborhoods.
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Overall, Mayor Breed’s disclosure sheds light on the persistent challenge of persuading homeless individuals to accept shelter in San Francisco. While November saw a slight improvement, the city continues to explore various strategies to address the issue comprehensively. The goal remains to assist people in exiting homelessness, thereby improving both their lives and the well-being of the community as a whole.
