Supervisor Preston Introduces Legislation to Immediately House At Least 500 People Experiencing Homelessness Within 90 Days

Amid rising tensions in the City over a lack of shelter for people experiencing street homelessness, Supervisor Preston introduced legislation today calling on the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (“HSH”) to fill at least half of its vacant Permanent Supportive Housing (“PSH”) portfolio within 90 days.

“It is unacceptable that so many supportive housing units sit empty while unhoused people sleep on the streets,” said Supervisor Preston. “Right now, we have a thousand vacant supportive housing units, units that are fully funded specifically for homeless people. We cannot tolerate any further delays moving people who need a place to live into these vacant units.”

The 2022 Point-in-Time Count found that there were 7,754 people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco, consisting of 3,357 people in temporary shelters and 4,397 people unsheltered.

According to HSH’s Vacancies in PSH dashboard, San Francisco has averaged a 10% vacancy rate over the last two years. As of August 2023, there were 1,002 vacancies in PSH, or about 11% of the City’s total 8,823 PSH units, with at least 714 immediately available for referral to people experiencing homelessness. 

Preston’s legislation urges HSH to act with urgency to fill vacant Permanent Supportive Housing units and reduce the number of vacant PSH units by 50% within 90 days, and to ensure that the vacancy rate in supportive housing does not average more than 5% going forward. The Resolution further directs HSH to report to the Board of Supervisors on its progress filling vacant units and reducing the vacancy rate.