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Supervisor proposes standards for shelters
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The Polk Street shelter Next Door has 280 beds and is one of 19 city-funded shelters and has drawn complaints, according to a report by the San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness.
SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - In response to complaints about the conditions of San Francisco’s homeless shelters — from lack of toilet paper to verbal abuse — city officials are expected to adopt standards and approve funding to improve the quality of the temporary bed sites.
The City’s 19 homeless shelters are on the front lines of one of San Francisco’s most vexing problems, homelessness, and critics of the shelters’ conditions say the facilities should serve as sanctuaries.
Supervisor Tom Ammiano authored the legislation to establish standards for the shelters, which serve about 1,800 homeless people daily.
“I think we will definitely see a healthier, more positive environment for people who need to use the shelters. The basics need to be attended to,” Ammiano said.
Operated by city-funded contractors, the shelters would be required to have a sufficient supply of clean towels, soap, toilet paper and blankets as well as provide healthy meals. Staffers would also be required to undergo special training. Under the legislation, The City would be able to seek up to $1,250 as a penalty per violation from shelter operators.
The bill followed a report issued last year by the San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness that documented complaints from users of the shelters, who said they experienced harassment and physical violence and a lack of such necessities as food and toilet paper.
Mayor Gavin Newsom’s homeless policy director, Dariush Kayhan, said he supported the bill, adding that “there’s room for improvement” in the shelters.
If conditions are more welcoming, Kayhan said, then The City would be able to better connect with those in need and provide the services to help them off of the streets.
The costs to implement the standards, according to Ammiano’s office will be about $135,000 annually, which includes hiring a new employee at the Department of Public Health to ensure compliance and an initial one-time cost of $108,000 for purchase of washers and dryers.
“The residents in some ways have really been neglected,” Jennifer Friedenbach, Coalition on Homelessness executive director, said. “[The bill] gives us the opportunity to transform the shelter system into one that truly treats people with dignity and respect and is a long time coming.”
The Board of Supervisors Government Audit and Oversight Committee voted Monday to send the legislation to the full board with recommendation for approval. The board will vote on it March 18.
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Examiner Reader said:
Why did I not see this story on wjz. This topic is the disgrace of humanity literally. I see these people begging on mlk in baltimore with obvious disabilities and I just want to get them away from my big rig, what is wrong with us, me. Why can we not address this like other issues and find solutions. It's like leprosy,aids,drug addiction. There has got to be a way. I wish the smart people would get together and solve it. thank you charles e brumdage
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Antwan said: said:
i dont see why they are complaining..why cant the city build a shelter there...what makes there area so important.
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Examiner Reader said:
"The costs to implement the standards, according to Ammiano’s office will be about $135,000 annually, which includes hiring a new employee at the Department of Public Health to ensure compliance and an initial one-time cost of $108,000 for purchase of washers and dryers." I guess I don't mind the cost, but how come the Stupervisor's can't spend my property tax dollars to pave the potholes on my street, or remove the trash and human excrement on the sidewalks, remove the graffiti, sweep up the broken glass from the car windows that have been smashed by "quality of life" criminals robbing car backseats and glove boxes, oh and while your at it Stupervisors how about adding some new street lighting so that perhaps the drive by shooters my perhaps be put off by all the new light? Oh well one can only wish. Hey was that the Blue Angels I heard flying around last night shooting randomly in SOMA again???
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Examiner Reader said:
Go Tom, its about time. How rude the staff can be. I'm not killing anyone, I'm just asking for more free stuff. I want free tiolet paper, I want a clean bed, I want a place to sleep after a day of panhandling. Oh, by the way, where is my meal?
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