By Chrisitn Evans, HANC Vice-President
In May, three petitioners submitted a ballot measure to the Department of Elections for the November election. I was fortunate enough to be one of them. Joined by housing advocate Jacquelynne Evans and housing services provider Lauren Hall, we filed the necessary papers to start signature collection for our measure to be added to the November ballot.
Championed by the Coalition on Homelessness and other housing and homeless activists, the measure would achieve a nearly doubling of funds, an estimated $300 million annually for the prevention of homelessness, ending waits for shelter beds, bringing thousands off the streets, including care for people with severe mental illness.
The source of funds is a proposed gross receipts tax on businesses located in San Francisco with more than $50 million annual gross receipts. The notion being that some small measure of the Trump corporate tax cuts will be taken back to help address the needs of the city’s poorest and most vulnerable.
Specifically, at least 50% of the fund or $150 million must go to housing and would pay for construction, rehab, prevention and operating subsidies of approximately 4,000 units of housing and mandates that families and youth are served. The goal is to house all those who are currently experiencing long term or chronic homelessness, are sick, or who are families with children or youth. It is critical that we create exits not just for those who are in the worst shape, but that we start early and make sure our children and youth don’t become chronically homeless adults.
Second, the measure seeks to transform our severely underfunded mental health and substance abuse system. At least 25% or $75 million in funding would be for public health to use on intensive wrap around services, street-based care, treatment, drop in services, residential facilities, and housing that targets people suffering the most from mental illnesses and addiction.
Third, the measure will close the entry way into preventable homelessness. At most 12% of the fund or $40 million would go to ensure 7,000 households get legal assistance, permanent or temporary subsidies to stay in their housing, or other forms of help they need to stay housed, such as help with electrical or other bills.
Fourth, the measure will eliminate the shelter waitlist and help keep our streets clean. At most 10% or $30 million would be used for immediate needs and would pay for 1,075 new shelter beds/navigation center beds as well as help keep our streets clean by funding dignified bathrooms and showers.
Finally, the measure limits the city to only 3% of the funds allowed for administration.
Stay tuned for a presentation at the June HANC meeting to go deeper into the measure’s opportunities and challenges – and an opportunity to answer your questions and voice your support.