Respect the Bayview: Request for Town Hall and a Moratorium on Additional Homeless Shelters in Bayview
What’s happening:
While we can all agree that San Francisco needs to compassionately and sustainably address the serious problem of large numbers of unhoused or vehicularly-housed residents, recent City data shows that District 10 now hosts 17.6% of the city’s homeless population. This is due largely to longstanding systemic inequities, including the pushing of unhoused and marginally housed citizens to this lower income, working class section of San Francisco.
In addition to the three homeless service facilities currently located and operating in the Bayview (1925 Evans, 500/598 25th Street, 125 Bayshore) the City has now opened a new facility, “Jerrold Commons”, at 2177 Jerrold Avenue.
This site was originally slated for 60 “tiny cabins” and 20 RV parking spaces. The plans, however, now appear to have changed, without any notice to the community. On Tuesday, May 13, the mayor introduced legislation at the Board of Supervisors’ meeting to amend the lease of the contested site, Jerrold Commons, to build an additional 80 shelter beds. The project at 2177 Jerrold Ave. was previously announced with 68 beds across 60 cabins for people without homes, including eight cabins for people living in RVs."
We want the Mayor and the relevant city department to meet with residents here in the Bayview.
It also appears that there will no longer be 20 RV parking spaces, which leaves those people still parking on the streets of our neighborhood, which are already congested. Other changes include potential additional tiny homes, an unspecified number of congregate shelter beds and the use of 8 tiny homes for those residing in RVs (an odd use of limited resources).
This will create additional stress and pressure on this neighborhood.
The April 2nd Press Release curiously claims, “City departments have worked closely with our partners in the community for nearly two years,” yet, we residents were not included as partners in those discussions. We applaud that Jerrold Commons is designed to target unhoused seniors, and includes a range of supports designed to lead to long-term housing and health stability, but we disagree with the increase in capacity without community input.
For far too long, the Bayview has been the recipient of those things and people that the City has wanted to push from view.
Our city needs to prioritize permanent housing solutions, including supportive housing that would not only benefit the target population, but also support the revitalization of the broader Bayview community for its residents and businesses. This in turn will enhance the desirability of the Bayview for future investment and development.
We, Bayview Residents, are asking for a Town Hall with the Mayor in the next 30 days to discuss long-term strategies for solutions that provide dignified permanent housing and support services for those currently unhoused or vehicularly housed in the Bayview. We would like this meeting to include: Mayor’s Office, HSH, DPH, DAS, SFPD, and any other necessary City offices.
The Bayview has an over-concentration of homeless shelters and services and we are, therefore, asking for a moratorium on the creation of any new, or the expansion of existing shelters, triage centers, or similar facilities.
Please support us in this request by sending the easy email below to City Hall.
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