Our Thoughts on Ed Lee’s Department to End Homelessness

As an up-and-coming company based in San Francisco, we know that the city has become a growing epicenter for technological innovations. However, we also know that many people who seek to work in San Francisco cannot find affordable housing and we are concerned over the rising prices of homes in the city. One of the recent questions asked on Flash Polls was related to this concern and how Mayor Ed Lee is looking to solve this problem.

The mayor recently announced plans to open the Department to End Homelessness, an effort that would receive $250 million per year in funding over his second term. The plan aims to help 8,000 homeless individuals find affordable housing and to provide long-term care for the seriously mentally ill. Mayor Lee also is eager to utilize the Homeward Bound program, which presents homeless individuals with bus tickets to travel home.

On paper, Ed Lee’s solution sounds promising. Over 6,600 people in San Francisco are homeless as of this year and mental health remains a serious issue within the city. By providing enough housing for 8,000 and giving long-term care to those with mental illnesses, Ed Lee could theoretically resolve the issue of homelessness in San Francisco by 2020. The results we got from our poll, however, shows that our users think otherwise.

For one, while the proposed department resolves the symptoms of homelessness, it does not tackle its primary causes. Nearly 40 percent of San Francisco’s homeless youth over the age of 18 have not completed high school or received a GED. With undergraduate degrees quickly becoming a must for most competitive jobs in the city, those who are homeless face educational barriers that could prevent them from landing a permanent job. Another critical reason why homelessness remains a prominent concern in San Francisco is the exorbitant price of housing. With rent for a studio apartment averaging at $2,722, it is clear that many simply cannot afford to pay the high costs of living in the city. The gentrification of traditionally working class neighborhoods such as the Mission District and Divisadero has only exacerbated the dearth of affordable housing. Despite, or perhaps because of, the technological and financial boom in the city, locals find themselves priced out of housing and ultimately from opportunities to improve the lives of themselves and their families.

Whether Ed Lee’s $1B project will complete its mission of housing 8,000 homeless individuals remains to be seen. One thing, however, is clear: homelessness is an issue that is difficult to resolve and, as our users have noted, it will take more than just a department to ensure everyone can find a place they call home.

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