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Board approves ordinance creating San Francisco safe-parking pilot for people living in vehicles
Summary
The Board unanimously adopted an ordinance establishing a safe overnight parking pilot program that directs HSH to create triage centers and a longer-term safe-parking pilot, coordinate with SFMTA on citation and tow-fee policies, and connect participants to the coordinated entry system.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed an ordinance on April 2019 to establish the city's first safe overnight parking pilot program for eligible people living in vehicles.
Supervisor Sandra Fewer (note: transcript uses “Supervisor Brown” for the introducer) introduced the ordinance to require the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) to establish a triage center plus a pilot safe-parking program offering on‑site case management, hygienic facilities and connections to the coordinated entry system. The ordinance directs HSH to collaborate with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) to develop a tow/notice and citation-abatement system and to provide waivers or reductions of parking fines and tow/storage fees for eligible participants. The ordinance affirms a CEQA determination and creates separate pathways for vehicular occupants in cars and for those in RVs.
In remarks recorded at the meeting, Supervisor Brown described the pilot as addressing a growing regional problem and said it will “provide a location and social services so that the vehicular house can attend to their vital needs, prevent unnecessary harassment, towing and citations, provide a pathway to interim or permanent housing.” Supervisor Safaie and others said they had been working on the proposal after constituent complaints and site visits; Supervisor Ronan and others urged the measure as a first step that could be scaled if its model proves effective.
Several supervisors emphasized prioritizing families, seniors and people with disabilities for early access to parking triage and services. Supervisor Haney said the program may help families keep vehicles while accessing family shelter by providing storage or other arrangements. Supervisor Ronan noted the mayor had committed an initial $1,000,000 to start the program.
The ordinance will require HSH to identify sites (sponsors said one to two lots initially), set triage and safe-parking rules and coordinate with SFMTA on citation and tow-fee policies. The Board passed the ordinance “without objection” and recorded the vote as unanimous.
