Watch CBS News

San Francisco Mayor Lee Outlines New Strategy On Homelessness

KCBS_740

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – Mayor Ed Lee is pitching his latest plan to end homelessness to people who live on San Francisco's streets, while also warning that setting up tents is not a long-term solution.

Speaking to a handful of homeless in North Beach, Lee said he and they need to get to know each other. He hopes his new Department of Homelessness, will help get them off the street, instead of shuffling them along from one city agency to another.

"We have to end homeless for each and every individual that we touch. And not say, 'We've done our day's job by giving them a level of service.' That's not what we should be doing," Lee said

The mayor hopes to consolidate the city's homeless programs under one roof by this fall.

Robin, who has been homeless for ten years, listened attentively and applauded the mayor's ideas.

"It's a positive help, and I'm pretty sure that that it will be a positive help for everybody here. This is a big change," he said.

The mayor said it will take time to find enough permanent, supportive housing for everyone, but rejects the idea of letting tent cities stand.

"As long as we have those alternatives, then we're going to be very aggressive in our outreach, saying you can't be on the streets," Lee said.

He said "aggressive" doesn't necessarily mean arresting homeless campers, but he does want those tents cleared.

"When we have units available, they are going to be joining the outreach teams and telling people they have to end the encampments on every street that we find them on," explained Lee.

Supervisor David Campos, whose serves the Mission District where many of the street campers are concentrated, said it's not enough

"We know that there is an increase in the number of homeless of about four percent. But beyond the numbers, it's as bad as I've seen," said Campos. "They didn't really clear Division. They pushed the people onto the smaller streets."

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.