Homeless children ask greater percentage
of housing go to families
Photo(s) by
Luke Thomas
By Pat Murphy
October 21, 2005
One day after the Newsom administration shifted housing policy
to prioritized homeless families, a contingent of such families
delivered recommendations to the Mayor's Office yesterday.
Some 30 young children and parents gathered on City Hall steps
prior to a "children's procession" to Room 200. Newsom
was not in City hall when the procession arrived.
Their signed banner and petitions asks, "for 25% of the
3,000 units of housing for homeless people be set aside for homeless
families; 120 housing subsidies for homeless families at $500
per family per month, and; triple the homeless prevention funds
in San Francisco."
"We are calling for 'Housing First' to be applied to homeless
families in San Francisco," reported Naj Daniels, of the
Coalition
on Homelessness which coordinated the event.
"Housing First for families in San Francisco must prevent
homelessness, place homeless families directly in housing, and
stop the merry-go-round homeless families face in San Francisco.
The mayor Wednesday unveil efforts for increased funding to prevent
evictions, as well as greater rent subsidies for homeless families.
At variance is percentage of set-side for families in city subsidized
housing, with the Coalition preferring 25% set-aside and Newsom
proposes seven percent.
Bed bug infestations are a common and increasing affliction in
existing SRO's (Single Room Occupancies).
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