SOMA Shoulders the Burden, But All Districts Can Share the Load

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SOMA Shoulders the Burden, But All Districts Can Share the Load
Density of HSH projects in our neighborhood

SWNA Executive Committee

A recent policy change shifted approval of supportive housing projects from the Board of Supervisors to the Mayor’s office, aiming to speed up services for the unhoused. But since then, four out of five newly announced sites have been placed in Western SOMA. While our community has long supported these efforts, continued concentration here strains the neighborhood and limits options for those the programs serve.

As a neighborhood association, we’ve responded by sending the following letter to the City:

“We strongly support Supervisor Mahmood’s initiative to have all districts participate equitably in the location of public shelters and services. In western SOMA we have a significant problem with people who variously live, sleep, eat, sell and buy drugs, discard trash, and sometimes even urinate and defecate in the street. While we strongly applaud the administration's efforts to address homelessness, to attack the drug problem, and to confront illegal behavior, we note with dismay that four out of five new programs announced in April are to be located in western SOMA. Though the new shelters and services may indeed help address these concerns, we urge the City and the operators of these new facilities to meet with the neighborhood and address concerns such that these services are not a net burden on an already overburdened neighborhood. And we encourage Mayor Lurie and the Board of Supervisors to support the ordinance requiring neighborhood equity.”

We encourage everyone to get involved. Supervisor Mahmood’s Equitable Shelter Distribution Ordinance is currently being reviewed.  While the mayoral office has already amended the legislation for each district to commit to building a minimum of 1 shelter, it still includes verbiage that would bar the city from building shelter facilities within 1,000 feet of an existing one, which would help SOMA greatly. To voice your support for this ordinance:

  • Contact the Budget and Finance Committee (Brent.Jalipa@sfgov.org or Board.of.Supervisors@sfgov.org ) and let them know you support the bill
  • Contact our supervisor Matt Dorsey DorseyStaff@sfgov.org, who also serves on this committee, and encourage him to fight for the bill
  • Attend upcoming hearings at City Hall on Wednesday, July 16, 2025; we’ll let you know when the agenda is set. Call-in or virtual access will be available as well.

Here’s a template for inspiration

Let’s work together to ensure that compassion is matched with fairness for every neighborhood and every San Franciscan.