On July 16, at St. Boniface, more than 200 people, representing themselves individually, as well as 83 organizations cumulatively, gathered to share their views in what was billed as a Housing Justice Summit.

The event spotlighted, and further strengthened, a remarkable unity among the many individual and constituent concerns, which made the Summit a virtual object lesson in what is rapidly becoming a central tenet in San Francisco progressive political circles: The idea that the concepts of “housing” and “community” are inseparable.

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In the long line of social programs being targeted from every angle and with every means by the Republican controlled congress and the administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) remains steadily at the top of the list. While it is undoubtedly the ultimate intention of conservative lawmakers to dismantle HUD altogether, certain programs are bearing the brunt of the scapegoat and poor-blaming axe more than others.

While HUD itself is on a swift path towards extinction, programs that promote homeownership and housing for more moderate income renters have been kept relatively safe from the budget bullets, while those which aim to serve the neediest and very lowest income citizens, specifically the Section 8 program, are suffering a most dreadful fate. It is no coincidence that the program’s constituency represents the highest percentage of people of color, immigrants, disabled and single parent families. They’re not likely to be Republican voters, high donors or influential beltway players. Nor do they have a well-organized or highly feared base of support.

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The Coalition on Homelessness, along with the help of numerous community based organizations, chalked up yet another stunning victory for poor people. The Single Standard of Care legislation, which creates a requirement for mental health treatment parity, was passed unanimously by the Board of Supervisors. This restores treatment for 1,700 poor people, and forbids the City from withholding their mental health treatment simply because they have no insurance.

In these times of increased repression—and greed-based policymaking from Bush to Schwarzenegger—poor people prevailing is indeed a sight to behold. While this may not seem a major issue, to those impacted it is huge. Mental health is often a life threatening issue, and it has a huge impact on the individual’s quality of life. Undeniably, this is an important victory.

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In July’s STREET SHEET we reported on the U.S. House of Representatives’ version of the 2006 fiscal year HUD appropriations bill. Since that time the U.S. Senate appropriations committee has followed suit with its own version, approving a bill on July 21. The Senate will vote on final passage of the bill shortly after Congress returns from the August recess, at which point Senate and House negotiators will work out differences between the two bills.

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Well, it is confirmed. A panhandler was unjustly incarcerated for four days as a result of Prop. M—an anti-panhandling ordinance that was passed by voters in the November 2003 general election.

Basically, Prop. M does three things: First, it specifically prohibits ANY KIND of solicitation in a large number of public places such as; ATM machines, public and private streets, highway ramps, on any public transit vehicle, or in any public or private parking lot.

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Here at the Coalition on Homelessness we work closely with community members and city agencies. We recently met with the Department of Human Services—they’re the ones who fund and oversee (among other things) the homeless shelters and resource centers here in the City. Our jobs here at the Coalition require the ability to interpret and analyze complex legal and policy directives. Luckily we have a good relationship with DHS and always get prompt assistance from them. Their staff is always extremely polite and accessible. We look forward to each and every meeting with them because of the respect and courtesy they extend to us as well as the valuable information they consistently provide. It is nice to know that there is so much transparency and accountability. They after all are responsible for spending our money to address the homeless problem in San Francisco.

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Los programas de asistencia social controlados por la administracion Republicana y el Congreso son el blanco de nuevos recortes; el Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano (siglas en Ingles HUD) sigue de manera prioritaria en la lista de recortes. Es sin duda alguna la intencion primordial de los conservadores desmantelar el HUD de una vez por todas usando ciertos programas como excusa.

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Following heated debate and vociferous public involvement, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve this year’s $5 billion city budget on July 19. This budget approved was a seriously modified version of the highly lacerated one (many cuts) that the mayor and his posse tried to push through. Gone from the FY 05-06 budget were most of the proposed cuts to public health and vital services for low income and homeless people that the Newsom administration supported.

While not a joyous revolutionary victory of the oppressed and exploited over the millionaires, bosses, and the ruling real estate speculator class, this year’s budget was nonetheless a win in that desperately needed and utilized services were sustained. If it were not for the community organizing and speaking out against the massive reductions the powers that be wanted to implement, many programs that serve the poor would have been eliminated and suffering would have increased. Imagine what the architects of gentrification would get away with if grassroots and other community groups were not here to challenge them.

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Homeless Advocates for the Mission (HAM), together with Supervisor Bevan Dufty, Mission residents, neighborhood organizations, and the Coalition on Homelessness, launched a successful campaign to stop the closure of 20 shelter beds in the Mission for homeless Latino immigrants. The campaign highlighted the growing crisis of homelessness in the Latino community and raised critical unanswered policy questions for San Francisco to consider when addressing the unique needs of homeless Latinos.

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