The runaway housing market that played such a role in excluding very low-income people from permanent shelter over the last couple decades of the twentieth century suddenly discovered, in the first decade of this century, that cloud castles were not a solid real estate investment.

It seems unlikely that the young people of this generation will be telling our grandchildren about the Subprime Mortgage Crisis of Aught-Eight, but who knows what we’ll be calling the global economic desmadre in a few decades time?—but it is clear that we have entered an economic crisis of historic magnitude.

And we are feeling this on the ground in San Francisco. In this fiscal year alone, the City municipal budget is projected to encounter an over $100 million shortfall. The shortfall for the 2009-2010 fiscal year is just shy of $600 million. Current cuts—the first round of which are taking effect the day this issue of the Street Sheet goes to press—are directed in large part at vulnerable people’s programs run or supported by the Department of Public Health and—to a lesser extent—the Human Services Agency.

There are dozens of programs that will be closed or suffer service reductions, and there’s a lot of politics around all this. It is absolutely vital that if we are to be a responsible society we discuss the political and economic issues seriously. And do that we will (see page 4), but the aim of the Street Sheet has always been to privilege the voices of people who experience the direct impacts of policy decisions. So, throughout this issue, we will be running descriptions of programs in our neighbourhoods that will be receiving devastating cuts, often written by those who directly benefit from these programs.

One thing that has become dramatically clear over the past several months is that business cannot continue as usual. A solution that creates a better society, rather than a worse, will require broad-based engagement in the economic decisions that will form our city and our country over the next few years. And the first step must be listening to one another. Please take the opportunity to do that in this issue of the Street Sheet.

What would the future be like without our youth? There would be no future.

Refused the right to rehabilitation. Refused a chance to learn and grow. Refused a chance to become a better person. A productive member of society. Stripped of self-esteem and self-respect by a system that would rather fund more jails for our youth than fund programs that bring about positive results. It is impersonal and it is cruel.

(more…)

Context: The Housing First for Families Campaign has been based out of the Coalition on Homelessness since 2005. At its inception, it set three primary goals to attempt to end family homelessness in San Francisco: 1) to triple eviction prevention funds, so that housed families could stay housed; 2) to create a substantive rental subsidy that would allow low-income San Francisco families to access market-rate housing; and, 3) to create enough safe, dignified, affordable housing for every homeless family in San Francisco. Within a year of their formation, they had already succeeded in their first two goals. However, the bureaucracy of the Human Service Agency quickly perverted the second of these, and the rental subsidy saw various amendments in its implementation that made it less useful for the lowest-income families. Much of the Campaign’s work this past year has been in trying to get those changes reversed.

For me, 2008 was a great undertaking, as we succeeded in involving homeless and underhoused families in the Housing First Campaign and the rental subsidy for low-income families—the latter of which we had already won thanks to our tenacity and perseverance. This showed us that when one wants to achieve something, despite obstance, one can achieve it. Above all, we developed leadership among our families, with a very close relationship, full of solidarity.

(more…)

As their name suggests, the Homeless Prenatal Program, based in the city’s Potrero Hill neighborhood, helps pregnant homeless women and their families.

Primarily, HPP provides housing assistance and substance abuse recovery to 2,600 families, although other services vary from family violence prevention to ESL classes to tax preparation.

In recovery-speak, the decision for an addict to end the cycle starts with what is called “a moment of clarity.”

For most of HPP’s clients, that moment occurs when they become pregnant.

“We try to capitalize the moment one is motivated to go into treatment,” said executive director Martha Ryan, who founded HPP in 1989. “This is especially important for a pregnant mother because we have two lives at risk.”

Almost all children born to clients are healthy and drug-free, according to a New York Times profile on HPP. Ryan attributes such success to the efforts of her staff, many of whom shared experiences similar to their clients. This rapport makes it easier for a mother to get healthy, end an abusive relationship, and find housing.

“They approach the clients in a nonjudgmental way,” Ryan said. “Because of their life experiences, [they] are able to create a trusting relationship.”

Budget cuts would mean laying off staff. To Ryan, fewer staff equals fewer services available to clients and, ultimately, a greater burden to the Department of Public Health.

Part of the increased human cost would include hospitalizing premature and addicted babies would increase, she said.

“The cost is much greater than treatment and staying housed,” Ryan said.

Richard May has always looked way sharp. He attended job interviews in a two-piece suit, and frequently came to the Coalition on Homelessness—his workfare site—in a button-up shirt and slacks. Nor was his professionalism limited to his dress, as attested by his voluminous (literally—it filled a volume) résumé. This, perhaps, isn’t the image the continuously-employed portion of the public has of the average recipient of cash assistance.

(more…)

While previous budget cuts—including the earlier round of this fiscal year—were often politically motivated, there is no doubt but that the cuts which began at the beginning of this month were necessary. The global economic crisis is real, and its effects in San Francisco are harsh and inevitable.

(more…)

Homeless Youth Alliance (HYA) has existed since 2006. Homeless Youth Alliance had previously established a strong presence in the Haight for many years through its predecessor, the Haight Ashbury Youth Outreach Team (HAYOT), and through its sister organization, San Francisco Needle Exchange (SFNE).

(more…)

The Quan Yin Healing Arts Center takes it name from the Chinese bhodisattva of healing and compassion. If the City continues to cut public health funding, Quan Yin’s patients might need to pray to the goddess for relief.

Founded in 1984, Quan Yin specializes in chronic illness and treats about 5,500 patients each year who augment Western medical care with traditional Chinese methods, such as acupuncture, therapeutic massage, herbal medicine and meditation.

Their main office is in the Mission District. However with DPH funding cuts looming, Wilson said they might have to close all 10 of their satellite offices. Those affected include Hospitality House, Mission Neighborhood Resource Center and the Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center.

(more…)