San Francisco campaign aims to house 1,100 homeless
SAN FRANCISCO – Homelessness and a housing crunch have come to define San Francisco as much as the Golden Gate Bridge or Alcatraz. Now a new public engagement campaign is urging residents to put aside their political differences and support finding homes for more than 1,000 homeless people.
The “All In” campaign launched Thursday has the support of baseball’s Giants and the NFL’S 49ers, as well as Airbnb, Google, Postmates and dozens of nonprofits and other businesses. Philanthropist Daniel Lurie, founder of the anti-poverty nonprofit behind “All In,” says he wants to inspire people in a city known for its liberal politics to tackle a problem mired in negativity, despair and political fighting.
“Some people are fed up. Some people are exasperated, some people are just giving up, and we need to bring all of those people and say, ‘Listen, here are solutions that you can get behind,’ ” he said. “We’re all going to have to sacrifice a little bit.”
A one-night count earlier this year found the number of homeless increased 17% over two years to more than 8,000 people. At the same time, the city is booming with well-paying tech and finance jobs that some say are squeezing out the city’s working and middle class.
Lurie, a San Francisco native and founder of Tipping Point Community, said he wants to focus on finding housing. He has raised the $100 million he pledged two years ago to address the issue, and he hopes to find homes throughout the city for 1,100 people by 2022.
He says there is land available to develop and landlords willing to accept vouchers to rent to people trying to move out of homelessness. Lurie said he needs to find more such landlords, and encourage voters to support building in a city where homeowners are sometimes quick to protest projects in their backyard.
Residents of the Embarcadero are suing the city for approving a temporary homeless shelter on the waterfront, saying it is the wrong fit.
Joe Wilson, executive director of Hospitality House, which operates a shelter, said he believes the campaign can make a difference.