A Study Conducted by Religious Witness

“To Determine the Extent and Cost of the Enforcement of ‘ Quality of Life’ Ordinances

Against Homeless Individuals in San Francisco during the Newsom Administration (January 2004-March 2008).”

A WISER AND MORAL APPROACH

WISER: Use Proven, More Cost-Effective Solutions:

Over the past year costs have now risen by $2 million to a total $9.8 million. $9.8 million could have FULLY paid for:

615 people in supportive housing over a period of one year (SF 10-Yr. Plan)
or Open up between 640 and 1,093 SROs through rental assistance
or 433 people in a 3-month residential detox facility
or 1,285 people in 3-month residential drug treatment
or 6 New 24-hour drop-in mental health crisis centers
or 141 psychiatric outreach workers
or 196 general outreach workers
or 196 case managers to assist with treatments, SSI and SSDI applications (note picture from previous study)
or Save 12,788 individuals or 12,114 families from eviction

“If their needs are met, the city will save money.”(SF 10-Yr. Plan)

WISER: Focus Police on Serious Crime not Nuisance Ordinance Enforcement

Police Officers SHOULD spend their time and professional training to deal with serious crime, including:

MORAL: Further Budening and Complicating the Lives of Poor People is SIMPLY WRONG!

Receiving ‘quality of life’ citations, arrest warrants and convictions can devastate homeless persons. Their already precarious living situation becomes even more chaotic and stressful. Perhaps the most disturbing and destructive is the fact that the ‘quality of life’ system in effect condemns many of them to continued homelessness because the citations, arrest warrants and convictions haunt them literally for years.

Arrests and related warrants and punishments appear on police records. Thus some people can't pass the standard background checks required for many services like federal housing assistance, SSI or SSDI benefits, employment or even some substance abuse treatment.

ENTRENCHES many individuals by CRIPPLING their ability to exit homelessness.