Bay Area/ San Francisco/ Community & Society
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Published on September 22, 2024
SF Announces Strict Measures on RV Dwellings; Mayor Breed's New 'Aggressive' Stance Continues as Election NearsWinston Drive, San Francisco
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San Francisco's strategy to address homelessness has taken yet another turn, with Mayor London Breed confirming stringent measures against the growing number of RV dwellings on city streets. In the latest development, Breed, neck-and-neck with Mark Farrell in a very close election year, announced that oversized vehicles parked overnight could face towing if occupants refuse offers of shelter or housing, according to the mayor in a statement obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle.

The tough posture adopted by Breed's administration coincides with her re-election campaign and targets "service-resistant" individuals among the city's homeless population. Received from multiple constituents, Supervisor Joel Engardio spoke of complaints about oversized vehicles clogging parking spaces and associated issues, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Engardio emphasized the need to synergize housing cultivation while not allowing overextension of RV parking.

Critical voices, however, believe these actions criminalize homelessness and break down trust between service providers and those in need. Gabriel Medina, the executive director of La Raza Community Resource Center, highlighted the importance of establishing safer parking sites rather than dispersing RV residents. "We cannot chase people around the city if they’re all spread out," Medina said, pointing out that enforcement hampers service delivery, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Earlier ticketing measures have already prompted many RV residents to relocate, with some spanning out to areas like Lake Merced Boulevard and Skyline Boulevard, trying to evade fines. Angela, a mother of two living in an RV, told ABC7 News, "We haven't gotten tickets, because we moved before they started ticketing." This statement highlights the ongoing struggle of these residents to remain ahead of enforcement tactics while lacking substantial housing assistance.

Adding to the city's hardline approach, Mayor Breed's "Journey Home Executive Directive" aims to relocate homeless individuals, emphasizing reconnecting them to family members outside the city, according to an article from Hoodline. Meanwhile, controversial encampment sweeps have drawn criticism, such as the operation under the Central Freeway, where residents received little notice before losing their tents and belongings, something confirmed by city officials deviating from typical protocol, as seen in a video reported by The SF Standard via Hoodline.

The deepening confrontation over San Francisco's homelessness predicament persists. The city's point-in-time count shows a 37% increase in unhoused people living in vehicles over the past two years and about 530 families on the shelter waitlist, as per the Coalition on Homelessness, stated in the SF Chronicle.