Thread by @CVH_Allies

The Covid Command Center is recommending that the safe sleeping site at #730Stanyan be extended to March 2021. You can express support for this recommendation and find out more info at a Zoom community meeting on Monday, 11/23 at 7pm.

Register: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regist…

We'll be live tweeting tonight's community meeting about the future of the safe sleeping site at #730Stanyan. We were just released from the waiting room! Here we go!

Mary Ellen Carroll, Director of @SF_emergency is now presenting. Today is the 300th day of SF Covid Command Center's covid response.

There are currently 95 participants on the call.

These are the indicators @SF_emergency looks at to guide SF's covid response.

Here is a graph of SF's new cases. We are in our third surge and are approaching the purple tier.

We need to bring our hospitalization rates down.

SF is currently in the red tier. @SF_emergency expects SF to be in the purple tier by next week.

"This is unprecedented. None of us in our lifetime ever had to do such an extended, robust response in an emergency." - Director Carroll

Now Abigail Stewart-Kahn, Director of @SF_HSH, is presenting.

There are 7 safe sleeping sites in the city, including in the Haight, Tenderloin, Castro/Mid-Market, Mission, and Bayview.

There are 242 residents in SF's safe sleep programs. 185 of these residents have gone through outreach and are enrolled in the ONE system.

Director Stewart-Kahn just admitted that a lot of SF's re-housing resources are slated for residents in the SIP hotel program, meaning that not much will go to people in the safe sleeping sites.

Dariush Kayhan is now presenting. Kayhan is working with @homelessyouth to weatherize the site. They will add platforms, new tarps, new tents, & torch tiles to the site. There will also be a new charging station with weather-resistant plugs. Things will be tied down w/ zip ties.

They also will decrease plots on the site to deal with drains that get backed up due to roots.

We have now moved on to community questions!

In response to concerns about extending the site beyond the original 3-6mo plan: "We are in a once in a lifetime, unprecedented, global pandemic. There is no alternate strategy or other objective or try to hide information or lie to people. We didn't know we would be in this."

It is safer for public health for people to be outside than packed in shelters. - Director Carroll

@DeanPreston adds that we're having this meeting because the 6mo mark is coming up. Nothing about the extension would in any way impact any development plans for affordable housing at #730Stanyan.

People have also asked what has been happening in the last 6mos. @DeanPreston responds that housing options are limited, 2,600 people were moved into SIP hotels, and D5 is getting a 2nd safe sleeping site in Hayes Valley!

Q: Why can't we have bigger safe sleeping sites instead of more small sites?
A: Too big are nonfunctional/unsafe and too small are too expensive.

Director Stewart-Kahn is hopeful that in unlocking the shelter bucket of Prop C funds, we can look at building more safe sleeping sites.

SFPD Captain Chris Pedrini is now addressing the encampment on Waller Street. He refers people to Department Notice 20-100: sanfranciscopolice.org/sites/default/…

There are no plans for more sites to open after 33 Gough.

Q: Why can't we do sites at schools?
A: SF is trying to open schools. It's a priority. The goal is for schools to open as early as January.

Q: How were the #730Stanyan residents cared for when the air was toxic?
A: People were able to be transported to sites for respite and were provided masks.

"Housing is the solution to homelessness. Shelter is better than safe sleep. But during this pandemic, outdoors is safer than shelters." -Director Stewart-Kahn

Director Stewart-Kahn clarifies that it's not "fair or relevant" to blame street concerns on the residents of #730Stanyan. "Homelessness is caused by an affordability crisis, not by bad behavior or poor choices."

There are no current plans to move the site to Golden Gate Park or Kezar Stadium. From a cost perspective, it's unlikely.

@SF_emergency and @SF_DPH provides covid testing to safe sleeping sites if there is an exposure or suspected case. There haven't been any covid issues at #730Stanyan.

@sherilynladams from @LarkinStreet: We have seen some amazing transitions., including family reunification for one of the youngest residents, an 18yo. Someone went to nursing school. People have moved into permanent supportive housing and into housing with family/friends.

New people have not been able to come in due to the current shutdown date at the end of the month. Now that the site is being extending, more people will be accepted from the street.

And the meeting is over! Lots of disturbing ?s and comments in the chat by some housed neighbors. Thankfully, we have a week of positive mutual aid projects this week - a Harvest Feast for #730Stanyan tomorrow night and passing out turkey/fixings on Thursday-Saturday!