San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced on Tuesday that she plans to spend $6.5 million to end transgender homelessness in the city.
According to a press release, Breed’s office will work with several city agencies and local non-profit groups to end homelessness for the estimated 400 transgender homeless people in The Golden City.
“Transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming San Franciscans are eighteen times more likely to experience homelessness compared to the general population, and we know that the rates are even higher for our minority trans communities,” Breed said in a statement.
“With one of the largest TGNC populations in the country, we not only must ensure that all San Franciscans have access to housing and essential resources through continued investments, but we can show the country that we continue to be a leader on supporting and protecting our trans communities,” the statement added.
The plan is included in her proposed two-year budget, along with 150 other long-term investments through San Francisco’s housing subsidy pool program, $6 million over two years to fund short-term rentals, and $500,000 for behavioral science health services for transgender people experiencing homelessness or at-risk for homelessness.
“This is a groundbreaking initiative that meets the needs of transgender and gender nonconforming individuals who are uniquely vulnerable to an array of health and safety challenges associated with unsheltered homelessness,” said Supervisor Matt Dorsey.
Similar to other cities in California, San Francisco has long been plagued by homelessness, which particularly impacts Black, Hispanic and other transgender women of color.
Between 2020 and 2021, more than 100 people fatally overdosed on fentanyl in hotels located in the Bay Area for the homeless.
“I would argue that ‘disaster’ is probably an understatement,” said Seattle radio host Jason Rantz. during an interview on Tucker Carlson Tonight in February.
“The Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing poured $160 million into a program to create these homeless hotels. They turn hotel rooms into permanent supportive housing that ends up getting managed by various nonprofits, and it’s been a total failure.”
Around the same time, a homeless man claimed the city was paying him to be homeless.
