2023 Highlights
By Shireen McSpadden, Executive Director, SF Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing
Dear SF Community,
As we approach the end of another busy year, I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude and admiration for the incredible work the HSH Team, partners and community have done on behalf of our clients. This is hard work and the year has been filled with challenges and uncertainties, but the unwavering dedication and tireless efforts of staff nonprofit provider partners and community have made a profound impact on the lives of unhoused people in our city.
I am truly amazed by this year’s achievements, from the launch of our comprehensive Home by the Bay strategic plan, to expansion of shelter resources, and the ongoing opening of life changing housing.
Some of the impressive outcomes for our community, include:
- Reduced unsheltered homelessness by 15% since 2019
- Expanded shelter capacity by 47% since 2018
- Expanded site based supportive housing by 23% since 2018
- Increased scattered site housing by 283% since 2018
- Reduced vacancies in PSH by 25% since January 2023
Nonprofit partners play a critical role in meeting and exceeding our goals. The compassion and empathy of nonprofit partners shines through in every interaction with our clients. Our combined efforts have helped thousands of individuals and families take steps towards stability and self-sufficiency offering them hope for a brighter future.
I am also grateful for the collaboration I have witnessed. The professionalism, expertise, and willingness to go above and beyond has created a supportive and inclusive environment that fosters innovation and growth. Even in the face of 2024 fiscal challenges, I remain optimistic and hopefully about the future we are building.
While we celebrate the successes of 2023, we are heading into 2024 with our eyes wide open. San Francisco is facing an extreme budget challenge in this coming year. In December the Mayor’s office issued updated budget instructions that call on every department to cut 10% of their budget in the coming fiscal year. While these instructions are extreme, homelessness continues to be a top priority for Mayor Breed. As we work to meet our budget requirements, HSH will be prioritizing maintaining shelter beds and housing units. That said, this will be a challenging fiscal year ahead and collaboration between the department, providers and advocates will be more important than ever.
Even in the face of these fiscal challenges, I remain optimistic and hopefully about the future we are building together. Recently, I had the privilege of meeting Leticia, a young mother, at the City Gardens opening event. I want to share her inspiring story, in her words, with you as a testament to the impact of the Homelessness Response System and the work of everyone involved:
As we look ahead to the coming year, we will continue to build upon our achievements. Together, in partnership, we can create a City where everyone can have access to safe and dignified housing and San Francisco can become a more livable city for all. I wish you and yours a joyful holiday season.
