The city of San Francisco is ready to ban homeless people from living in Recreational Vehicles (RVs) by adopting strict new parking limits the Mayor says are essential to keep sidewalks clear and prevent build-up of trash.
The policy which awaits final approval by San Francisco supervisors Tuesday, targets at least 400 recreational vehicles in the city with the population of 800,000 people. The RVs are used as shelter for people who cannot afford housing, including immigrant families with children.
The people who shelter in the RVs say they’re a necessary choice in a city so expensive where affordable apartments are impossible to find.
However, Mayor Daniel Lurie alongside others who support the policy say motor homes are not suitable for long-term living and the city has a duty to both make available shelter to those in need, as well as, clean up the streets.
Kunal Modi, who advises the mayor on health, homelessness and family services, said: “We absolutely want to serve those families, those who are in crisis across San Francisco.
“We feel the responsibility to help them get to a stable solution. And at the same time, we want to make sure that that stability is somewhere indoors and not exposed in the public roadway.”
However, those who criticize the plan, say that it’s cruel to force people to give up their only shelter in exchange for a shot at traditional housing when there is not nearly enough units for all the people who need help; the Mayor is only providing more money to help sixty-five (65) households.
Executive Director of the Coalition on Homelessness, Jennifer Friedenbach, said: “I think that there’s going to be people who lose their RVs. I think there’s going to be people who are able to get into shelter, but at the expense” of people with bigger needs, like those sleeping on a sidewalk.
Photo: Recreational Vehicle
