San Francisco Enforces Law for Homeless Sweeps
Mayor London Breed seeks to rectify the homeless issue in San Francisco amid a recent Supreme Court ruling.
(Getty Images)
The housing crisis in the Bay Area is a major concern for many residents. In particular, homelessness on the streets of San Francisco has long been on the road to improvement. Despite initiatives, the homeless population is increasing and those who refuse refuge still prevail on the city’s streets.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed plans to clear the city of homeless encampments.
“Effective August, we are going to be very aggressive and assertive in moving encampments, which may even include criminal penalties,” Breed stated.
Mayor London Breed addresses the Supreme Court’s Decision on ‘Grants Pass’ today. She’s says it will allow the city of San Francisco to be more aggressive on clearing homeless encampments. pic.twitter.com/kceLrMmsEv
— Sergio Quintana (@svqjournalist) June 28, 2024
In an effort to acknowledge and adequately fund homeless services, the federal government requires cities to partake in a Point-In-Time Count every two years. It is a survey for people experiencing homelessness, in emergency shelters, transitional housing, abandoned properties, cars and the streets.
The most recent Point-In-Time Count took place in January 2024, which uncovered the latest numbers on the homeless population in San Francisco. It increased by 7%, from 7,754 to 8,323, since 2022.
While 48% are living in shelters, a percentage desires to remain living on the streets. In November 2023, 117 of 350 of those offered shelter accepted it. This poses a threat to public health safety as unhoused homelessness is more vulnerable to chronic health issues and can often be linked to crime and pollution.
A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling enables the clearing of homeless encampments in cities. The 6-3 decision of City of Grants Pass v. Johnson allows cities nationwide to ban sleeping and camping in public spaces. According to the federal government, homelessness in the United States is at an all-time high since the first recorded data in 2007.
As initiatives materialize and remain in place to alleviate the housing crisis and address the issue of homelessness, there is hope that public health safety can be improved both nationwide and globally.
Kyana Early (she/her) is a journalist from the San Francisco Bay Area who covers entertainment and culture.
Edited by Nykeya Woods