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Mayor Breed outlines placements, beds and push for stronger conservatorship laws in District 1 Q&A
Summary
Mayor London Breed told the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 8 that the city has created about 5,300 placements since June 2020 and expanded treatment capacity by about 300 beds, and she said she will continue pushing the state to strengthen conservatorship laws to address people with severe mental illness living on the streets.
Mayor London Breed joined the San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ Nov. 8 meeting remotely for a District 1 question-and-answer session about homelessness and services for people with behavioral health needs.
She told Supervisor Aaron Peskin? No — correction: Supervisor Chan asked a question on behalf of a constituent about treating people with severe mental illness on the streets. Breed said the city’s Homeless Recovery Plan, launched in June 2020, has produced about 5,300 new placements in the city’s homeless response system, including more permanent supportive housing than in the prior two decades. She said the city has reopened and created shelter beds, expanded prevention and rental-assistance programs, and broadened its treatment network with “capacity for almost 300 additional beds for people experiencing homelessness and behavioral health needs.”
Breed said some street conditions require enforcement to encourage people to accept help and that existing conservatorship authority has “not been enough.” She said she will continue to push the state legislature for stronger conservatorship laws, because local governments lack the authority to compel some people into treatment. "I wish we had stronger laws to force people into treatment or to get them help," Breed said on the record. She also said she hopes supervisors will join her in that push at the state level.
Supervisor Jane Chan (District 1) asked Breed to hold town halls in the Richmond district so constituents can engage directly; Breed agreed to continue local outreach and said her office aims to work with supervisors and community stakeholders across the city.
Ending: Breed framed the challenge as complex and argued that the city’s efforts — placements, housing, shelter, expanded treatment capacity and prevention programs — represent progress but not a finished solution. She signaled a particular emphasis on state-level conservatorship law changes as a pathway to increase the city’s ability to help people in crisis.
