fbpx
Search
Close this search box.

Eye on the Ball: Prop C, Our City Our Home

The Key to Transforming the Homeless Crisis

GLIDE assists people who are homeless or on the brink of homelessness every day, and we have witnessed the effects of the housing crisis on everyone from working families to retirees to disabled veterans on waiting lists for shelter. As a community that values unconditional love and radical inclusivity, we are compelled by our faith and our love to act.

YESONC

That is why we are urging you to vote yes on San Francisco’s Proposition C, a November ballot initiative that will make stable housing accessible for thousands of San Francisco residents who might otherwise be on the street.

We have created a generation of refugees in our own city, of our own people.

The consequences of remaining passive are already apparent — houseless people are swept up by police and public works staff, but have nowhere to go because the shelters are full, or can only offer a bed for a few nights before ejecting them again onto the street. We have created a generation of refugees in our own city, of our own people.

WHAT PROP C WILL ACHIEVE

This measure emphasizes real change by addressing the needs of the more than 15,000 people our homelessness system touches each year. With its passage, San Francisco would finally be able to get its residents off the streets and in permanent housing, shelter and services. This measure would make our city a model for homelessness services nationwide and benefit all San Franciscans by saving lives, cleaning and rehabilitating streets, and creating a community where all its citizens are cared for.

Permanent solutions    
At least 50% of the fund or $150 million must go to housing
Housing solves homelessness! Prop C would pay for construction, rehab, prevention and operating subsidies of approximately 4,000 units of housing, 1,000 of which would serve families. Our goal is to house all those who are currently experiencing long-term or chronic homelessness, suffer illness or disability, or who are families with children.

Transforming our severely underfunded mental health and substance abuse system
At least 25% or $75 million targeting this population
This is funding the San Francisco Department Public Health would use on intensive wrap-around services, street-based care, treatment, drop-in services, residential facilities and housing to care for and stabilize our highest-needs people suffering from mental illness and substance use disorders.

Preventing homelessness
Up to 12% of the fund or up to $40 million will be allocated towards prevention
This measure would ensure 7,000 San Francisco households get legal, rental, and other essential assistance so our neighbors can stay in their homes and stop falling into homelessness in the first place.

This is a rare and historical moment where conditions are in place to affect great change for thousands of San Franciscans.

Eliminating the shelter waitlist and keeping our streets clean
Up to 10% or $30 million will be used for to pay for immediate needs 
There are over 1,000 people on our city’s shelter waitlist every night. This measure would provide 1,075 new navigation center beds as well as keep our streets clean by funding public bathrooms and showers.

Prioritizing services
The measure would cap the city’s administrative costs at only 3% of the total funding.

WHO WE ARE

This initiative was crafted with input from dozens of stakeholders, including homeless people, business leaders, homeless service providers, tenant groups, religious organizations, city department heads and a host of concerned San Franciscans.

yes on C

Tech workers rally for Prop C along with local non-profits and housing advocates outside the Chamber of Commerce, October 10, 2018.

WHY NOW

This is a rare and historical moment where conditions are in place to affect great change for thousands of San Franciscans.

As property values and rents skyrocket while tents proliferate, residents are more motivated than ever to see homelessness addressed. Raising revenue to address homelessness has been a great challenge given California’s restrictive laws that require two-thirds approval of voters for any special tax that is dedicated to a particular use.

HOW THIS WILL BE PAID FOR

This would mandate fair share contributions of an average of .5% from earnings over $50 million from SF businesses ($5 per $1,000 annually). Those industries with lower profit margins would receive a smaller percentage increase, while those with higher margins would receive a larger increase.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Our current spending of 3% of the city’s budget does a lot – it houses 7,000 formerly homeless people and creates temporary beds for 2,500. But, we have more than twice that many souls still on the streets. Federal spending on housing has failed to keep pace with rising costs — we must replace that funding at the local level if we want to see a turnaround.

Register to vote by October 22 to vote in the upcoming November 6 election. You can also visit City Hall day-of for last-minute registration).

Visit www.ourcityourhomesf.com for the measure’s comprehensive plan, ways to get involved and more. Call Louis Solano at 415 674 5538 to come volunteer with GLIDE in the field each Saturday.

Volunteer with us on Election Day! You can sign-up here: http://bit.ly/cgotv

Finally, please share this news with anyone concerned about homelessness, advocacy and the rights of tenants. With the power of community, we can radically change the state of housing in San Francisco.

Ben Lintschinger, Advocacy Manager at the GLIDE Center For Social Justice. “Eye on the Ball” is Ben’s semi-monthly series that highlights GLIDE’s most urgent advocacy priorities. 

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST!