Recovery First: Housing for Healing

The Context:

San Francisco is facing a record-breaking overdose crisis. While our city provides housing for many, a critical gap remains: safe, drug-free environments for those who are fighting to stay sober.

Current "Housing First" models often mean that someone newly sober is placed in a building where active drug use is prevalent. This is a recipe for relapse. Supervisor Matt Dorsey has introduced common-sense legislation to change this with an ordinance for Drug-Free Permanent Supportive Housing. See his X post.

"Ordinance amending the Administrative Code to state that it is City policy to

expand the availability of Site-Based Permanent Supportive Housing (“PSH”) that prohibits onsite illicit drug use among residents (“Drug-Free PSH”)
prohibit the City from funding new Site-Based PSH for people experiencing homelessness that prohibits evictions on the basis of drug use alone (“Drug-Tolerant PSH”), except where operation of the housing as Drug-Free PSH would conflict with standards imposed by law or by a condition of other funding, or the Board of Supervisors has waived the funding prohibition based on specific findings;
and require the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (“HSH”) to survey residents of Site-Based PSH to assess their interest in living in either Drug-Tolerant PSH or Drug-Free PSH and report on the survey findings and HSH’s strategies to meet PSH residents’ demands.”

We need your voice to get this over the finish line.

25-30% of overdose deaths occurred inside permanent supportive housing in 2025. That's why Supervisor Dorsey has taken an important step to create an ordinance that will pave the way for drug free permanent supportive housing.

The next step for the legislation to get approved is for the Public Safety & Neighborhood Services Committee to vote on it before appearing in front of the Board of Supervisors.

By sending a letter in support of this ordinance, you are telling City Hall that recovery deserves a home.

Take 30 seconds to support a sober future for our neighbors.

Send the email below to voice your concern and support drug-free housing

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Subject

Message to Supervisors, Dr. Tsai, Mr. Modi, and Mayor Lurie,

Dear Supervisors, Dr. Tsai, Mr. Modi, and Mayor Lurie,&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;I am writing to express my strong support for Supervisor Matt Dorsey’s legislation to expand the availability of drug-free and recovery-oriented Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) in San Francisco.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;For too long, our city’s approach to supportive housing has overlooked a vital segment of the unhoused population: those who are actively seeking or maintaining sobriety. Under the current "Housing First" framework, individuals in early recovery are frequently placed in environments where they are surrounded by the very substances and behaviors they are trying to escape. This lack of choice isn't just a policy gap, it is a barrier to life-saving recovery.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;I support this legislation because:&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;Safety and Choice: Residents deserve the right to choose a living environment that supports their health goals. For many, a "drug-tolerant" building is not a bridge to stability, but a trigger for relapse.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;Effective Use of Resources: By utilizing Prop 1 bond funds and other state resources specifically intended for recovery housing, we can expand our housing portfolio without taking away from existing "Housing First" programs.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;Addressing the Overdose Crisis: With overdose deaths reaching record highs, we must provide every possible tool for long-term remission. Sober living environments are a proven component of successful recovery.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;We cannot continue to offer a "one-size-fits-all" model for supportive housing. I urge you to vote YES on this ordinance to ensure that San Francisco provides a diverse range of housing options that honor and protect the hard work of recovery.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;Thank you.

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