Supporting Real Solutions For Homelessness, Mental Health, and the Drug Crisis
Decades of shifting priorities and funding from city and state leadership have led to unsafe and inhumane street conditions for both housed and unhoused residents of San Francisco. The city’s failure to effectively coordinate and deliver social services has left people with severe mental health and substance use disorders to deteriorate in public. Those who desperately need treatment can’t get it, and other residents and businesses feel the impact of our broken social contract.
If San Francisco wants to improve street conditions, city officials must expand addiction treatment and enforce laws that improve street conditions—even when politically unpopular. While strictly law-and-order approaches to this problem have failed, San Francisco has never tried a balanced, multi-pronged approach, including solutions like restoring regional mental hospitals, expanding treatment options (including mandated treatment), and stepping up law enforcement—all at the same time with coordination among departments.
The Way it is Now
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Failing Services
The city spends hundreds of millions of dollars on various social services, but lacks the coordination between departments needed to solve the epidemic.
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Expansive Encampments
Homeless encampments create fire hazards and broader safety concerns for residents and visitors.
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Streets are Waiting Rooms
Unhoused people with mental health and substance use disorders who refuse treatment have no path to recovery, as they cannot be compelled into care.
3 Keys to a Future We Want to See
Departments Working in Sync
Coordinated city departments deliver effective on-demand treatment, with service providers held accountable for results.
Upholding a Social Contract
City officials enforce laws to keep streets safe and usable for residents and businesses.
Comprehensive Treatment Options
Restored and reformed mental hospitals and drug treatment care, with mandated treatment available as an option.
