A Publication of the Coalition on Homelessness
by Lupe Velez
Historically, the Super Bowl in the City of San Francisco has prompted city officials and local authorities to ramp up sweeps and the clearing of homeless encampments in the downtown area. Leading up to the 2016 Super Bowl—or Super Bowl 50 to sports fans—City officials stated there was no formal City policy to move people for the Super Bowl, which actually took place 45 miles away in Santa Clara and will be on this year’s gameday.
by Lupe Velez
Every two years, the City of San Francisco conducts a Point-in-Time Count (PIT) with which it attempts to capture the number of people experiencing street homelessness, as required by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a condition for funding. San Francisco’s latest PIT Count was conducted in the early morning Thursday, January 29. Historically, advocates and government officials alike have criticized the PIT count for underreporting its figures.
by Armando Martinez, Flo Kelly, and Colleen McCarthy
Berryessa safe RV parking site in San Jose. Photo by Flo Kelly.
What happens when you are called to a ministry? You follow the way of love, compassion, and empathy without constraints of time and expense, finding peace and satisfaction in helping someone else get through the day—pure selflessness. On the other hand, a new job, no matter how committed you might be to the issue or sector,
by Colleen McCarthy
Berryessa safe RV parking site. Photo by Flo Kelly
The first Safe Parking Program in the United States was pioneered in Santa Barbara in 2004 by a group of activists and is now run by New Beginnings (Lewis et al., 2024; Ray Ivey & Gilleland, 2018). Safe parking is usually designed to offer a transitional space for car and RV residents to park at night (and sometimes 24/7) to avoid parking regulations and offer a safe location with access to basic services like water,
No human should have to live on the streets. Yet, as low income households in the United States face growing disparity between income and rents, so does homelessness. High rents are the single determinator of homeless rates. The antidote is not that complicated—invest in housing that is affordable to the bottom third of the income ladder. Instead, the last half century trend has been for our leaders to vacillate between immoral inaction and blaming poor people for their poverty.
