Efforts to Clear Tent Cities in San Francisco Include Busing Homeless Individuals

San Francisco is taking swift action to address its homelessness crisis by aggressively clearing tent cities following a Supreme Court ruling in June that granted cities more authority to manage the issue. Despite the city's efforts, keeping public areas clear remains a challenging task.

Last week, cleanup crews removed several encampments, only to see tents reappear within days. Some of the new campers were observed using drugs, highlighting the persistent issues plaguing the city.

In addition to clearing tent cities, San Francisco continues to bus homeless individuals to other California counties and even to other states, including Texas. Over the past two years, the city has relocated at least 857 homeless people through its Journey Home program, launched in September. Destinations have included Oregon, Nevada, Texas, Ohio, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, and Indiana. The city's older Homeward Bound program has also relocated hundreds in recent years, though exact numbers are unclear.

Key Actions Taken:

• Aggressive clearing of tent cities across San Francisco.

• Use of programs like Journey Home to relocate homeless individuals to other states.

• Mayor London Breed’s directive to prioritize relocation programs over shelter services.

Mayor London Breed issued an executive directive last Thursday, instructing city employees to direct homeless individuals toward these relocation programs before offering shelter and other services. Breed emphasized that San Francisco can no longer support the influx of homeless individuals moving to the city to take advantage of free services.

The Supreme Court recently ruled that cities can enforce bans on homeless individuals sleeping in public places even if there isn't enough shelter space, asserting that such laws do not violate the Constitution's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. This decision stemmed from a case involving Grants Pass, Oregon, where officials attempted to fine individuals $295 for sleeping outside when tents crowded the town’s public parks.

Before the court's ruling, cities like San Francisco faced challenges in addressing homelessness, as officials were limited in their actions and often met resistance from individuals refusing shelter beds. San Francisco has long struggled with rampant homelessness, crime, and open-air drug use, particularly involving fentanyl, which have driven residents and businesses out of the downtown area. On any given night, about 38,000 people are homeless in the Bay Area, marking a 35% increase since 2019.

California leads the nation in homeless population, with approximately 180,000 people experiencing homelessness last year and about 123,000 unsheltered on any given night, according to the latest count. Encampments near freeways, under overpasses, and by exit ramps have become so prevalent that California’s transportation department has developed its own protocol and workforce for clearing them.

As San Francisco continues to tackle its homelessness crisis, the city’s strategies and their effectiveness will be closely watched by other urban centers grappling with similar challenges.

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