Posts by Emily San Nicolas
San Francisco’s New Chief of Homelessness on How to Spend $1 Billion and Get People Housed Quickly
Shireen McSpadden took the helm last month as the director of San Francisco’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. McSpadden is coming to the department at a pivotal time. At last count, the city had more than 8,000 people experiencing homelessness, and experts have predicted that number could grow as a result of pandemic-related job losses. She’s…
Read MoreGive Them Shelter
Want to solve America’s urban homeless crisis? First, you have to believe it can be fixed. Anyone who has passed by the seemingly endless rows of hard-worn tents and makeshift shelters scattered under San Francisco’s bridges, beside its freeways, and along its sidewalks has probably struggled to imagine how our nation’s homeless crisis might be…
Read MoreOne Way to Get People Off the Streets: Buy Hotels
For homeless people, a place to live is life changing to a degree that almost no other intervention can provide. SAN FRANCISCO — The inside of the van was lined with plastic. The driver was masked and ready to go. There was a seat for just one passenger. Gregory Sanchez eyed the setup warily. Mr.…
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