San Francisco mayor consolidates services for homeless crisis

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has taken steps to address the city's ongoing homeless crisis. He signed an executive order to reorganize the services currently in place, which he believes are not effective enough. Lurie highlighted the urgent nature of the issue, noting that two people die from drug overdoses every day in San Francisco. “By any standard, that is unacceptable,” he stated. The mayor’s plan focuses on improving street outreach teams and establishing better standards for tracking the effectiveness of service providers. He criticized the practice of distributing clean drug paraphernalia without offering treatment options. Lurie emphasized that providing supplies without accompanying treatment is not a solution. This stance echoes the concerns of residents like J.J. Smith, who has recorded drug activity in the Tenderloin area. Smith pointed out that while non-profits hand out equipment, they often do not provide information on how to seek treatment. The Glide Foundation, one of the non-profits distributing clean equipment, defends its actions by stressing harm reduction. CEO Gina Fromer explained that providing clean needles helps prevent the spread of diseases like HIV and hepatitis C. She argued that meeting addicts where they are is crucial for eventual recovery. The mayor announced that the health department will release a new plan later this week, outlining what services non-profits should provide. He hinted that groups supplying drug equipment will also need to refer individuals to treatment programs. Smith called for a shift in focus towards helping people overcome addiction before providing them with drug-use supplies. He believes that addressing the root problem is essential to making a real impact.