Supervisors advance resolution declaring homelessness a shelter crisis, call for rapid use of city properties and expanded navigation centers

The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee on March 24 advanced to the full Board a resolution authored by Supervisor David Campos declaring a shelter crisis in San Francisco under the California Government Code and urging expedited action to open navigation centers and emergency housing sites.

Campos said the declaration would allow the city to shorten processes and more quickly convert city‑owned properties into temporary housing or navigation centers. "We introduce our ordinance to declare a state of emergency so long as we have results," he said, urging follow‑through on outcomes rather than symbolic action. Campos said the city owns between "1,800 to 2,200 pieces of property" and suggested a small number could be repurposed rapidly: "I believe that of those 2,000 properties, we can find 6 that would be suitable for a navigation." (as spoken in committee.)

The committee heard more than two hours of public testimony from unhoused residents, service providers, neighborhood coalitions, health advocates and students. Speakers described shelter closures, lengthy shelter wait lists for families, health impacts and the disproportionate homelessness of LGBTQ and transgender people. Carla Praglin of Compass Family Services told the committee that family emergency shelters were at capacity and cited the number of families and children on her agency's waiting list: "There are currently 240 families just waiting to get into shelter. That's 346 children waiting to get into shelter," she said.

Public health and harm‑reduction advocates urged the committee to include managed‑alcohol housing and supervised consumption services among supported interventions. Several speakers credited the navigation center model (cited successes at the Mission navigation center) and called for rapid replication.

Supervisor Norman Yee offered an amendment to add a new section clarifying that the declaration would not suspend or waive city laws requiring public notification, community outreach, or public input when selecting and developing sites for emergency housing. Yee said the amendment was intended to reassure neighborhoods and preserve community process; the amendment was read into the record, seconded and taken without opposition.

Chair Jane Kim moved the resolution forward with a positive recommendation to the full Board. Campos and Kim emphasized the need for immediate, tangible results—navigation centers, supportive services and a client‑centered data system to track people in shelters and on the streets. The committee approved the motion without opposition; the resolution will appear on the Board agenda for formal consideration.