With Social Security disability benefits as his only source of monthly income, Bill Shomer decided that he needed to live without a phone. The San Francisco resident could barely pay for food and public transportation, so something had to go. “It got to the point where I was eating only two meals a day,” Shomer said. “I’ve been giving everything up; the phone was the last thing I was holding on to.” Read More

A little more than a year ago, Bevan Dufty took what may be one of the least enviable jobs in San Francisco — working as the point person in City Hall on homelessness. Among the top 10 complaints in San Francisco, aggressive panhandling and homeless people living on the streets typically rank as high as Muni service. But in speaking with Dufty, you would be hard-pressed to conclude that he has anything but enthusiasm for his job. Read More

In response to a fatal stabbing, San Francisco has tightened admission rules for homeless shelters to bar access to people who are acting violently or making such threats outside a facility. Read More

At Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, David Campos announced that he is asking the budget and legislative analyst to conduct a performance review of the San Francisco Housing Authority. He repeatedly stated (so you know it’s true) that “the focus is not on individuals or personalities” but “what is happening to address the needs of the residents.” Read More