Supervisor Fielder calls for rescinding or reforming 90-day family shelter policy, cites evictions and confusion

Supervisor Fielder told the Board on March 11 that the city's reinstated 90-day shelter length-of-stay policy is harming families and increasing the risk that children will be returned to the streets.

Fielder said shelter providers have at times threatened to call San Francisco police to remove families facing eviction for not meeting what providers interpreted as "positive progress" on family success plans. He described two families who faced 5 p.m. evictions before the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) intervened and granted 30-day extensions because the families were awaiting scheduled housing referrals.

"The policy has escalated to the point that just yesterday, 2 families were facing 5PM evictions with the threat of the shelter provider calling SFPD to remove them," Supervisor Fielder said. "It turns out that the families were waiting for scheduled appointments for housing referrals, something that should have been considered positive progress."

Fielder said his office circulated an extensive memo documenting implementation problems, including that families are not always informed of their right to request extensions or file grievances, that providers have broad discretion to define "positive progress," and that systemic barriers to housing remain unaddressed. He said HSH and the mayor's policy chief have been open to working on solutions.

He asked the mayor and HSH to rescind or substantially reform the policy and to work with the Board and stakeholders to develop alternatives that avoid placing undue stress on families. "No parent wishes to raise their children in a shelter," Fielder said. "No child should have to live on the streets, and the city shouldn't be the cause for any child being back on the streets."

Why it matters: The resolution addresses family homelessness and a shelter policy that supervisors, social workers and community groups say is being implemented inconsistently. The item could affect HSH practice, shelter-provider procedures, and families currently in shelter placements.

Discussion and direction

- Discussion: Supervisor Fielder described multiple implementation failures including lack of notice of grievance rights, inconsistent application of extension criteria, and provider discretion; he said HSH acknowledged barriers. - Direction: Fielder asked the mayor and HSH to rescind or reform the 90-day policy and to collaborate with the Board and stakeholders on alternatives and increased shelter and housing options. - Formal decision: Supervisor Fielder introduced the resolution as new business; no Board vote occurred on March 11.

Quotes

"The policy has escalated to the point that just yesterday, 2 families were facing 5PM evictions with the threat of the shelter provider calling SFPD to remove them," Supervisor Fielder said.

"No parent wishes to raise their children in a shelter. No child should have to live on the streets, and the city shouldn't be the cause for any child being back on the streets," Fielder added.

Speakers

[{"name":"Supervisor Fielder","role_title":"Supervisor","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"San Francisco Board of Supervisors"}],

Authorities

[{"type":"policy","name":"90-day shelter length-of-stay policy (reinstated)","citation":"not specified","referenced_by":["family-homelessness-03-11"]}],

Actions

[{"kind":"other","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"family-homelessness-resolution"},"motion":"Introduce a resolution calling on the mayor and HSH to rescind or reform the reinstated 90-day shelter length-of-stay policy and to work with the Board and stakeholders on alternatives","mover":"Supervisor Fielder","second":"not specified","vote_record":[],"tally":{},"outcome":"no_action","notes":"Resolution introduced as new business; HSH indicated willingness to discuss reforms."}],

discussion_decision

{"discussion_points":["Implementation problems: families not informed of ability to request extensions or file grievances","Providers exercising broad discretion defining 'positive progress'","HSH overturned at least one provider removal decision and granted 30-day extensions"],"directions":["Supervisor Fielder called on the mayor and HSH to rescind or reform the policy and to collaborate with the Board and stakeholders"],"decisions":["Resolution introduced; no vote on March 11."]},

clarifying_details

[{"category":"implementation_issue","detail":"Two families faced same-day eviction threats while awaiting scheduled housing referrals; HSH later granted 30-day extensions","value":2,"units":"families","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Supervisor Fielder"},{"category":"grievance_rights","detail":"Most families were not being informed of their right to submit a grievance if an extension is denied","value":"not specified","units":"N/A","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Supervisor Fielder"}],

proper_names

[{"name":"Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing","type":"agency"},{"name":"SFPD","type":"agency"},{"name":"San Francisco Board of Supervisors","type":"agency"}],

community_relevance

{"geographies":["Citywide","shelters across San Francisco"],"funding_sources":[],"impact_groups":["families experiencing homelessness","children in shelter","shelter providers"]},

meeting_context

{"engagement_level":{"speakers_count":1,"duration_minutes":7,"items_count":1},"implementation_risk":"high","history":[{"date":"2025-03-11","note":"Supervisor Fielder introduced resolution and circulated memo documenting implementation concerns."}]},

searchable_tags

["family_homelessness","shelter_policy","HSH","grievance_rights"],

provenance

{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"block_4203.49","local_start":0,"local_end":120,"evidence_excerpt":"Thank you, madam clerk. Colleagues, today, I have found it imperative to introduce a resolution addressing the increasing crisis of family homelessness and the harm on children from the reinstated 90 day shelter length of stay policy.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block_4438.355","local_start":0,"local_end":54,"evidence_excerpt":"I hope all of you will join us in supporting San Francisco's most vulnerable children and working to find real, lasting solutions to family homelessness.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]}