Despite More Shelter Beds, Homelessness in San Francisco Continues to Grow
If San Francisco has so many shelter beds, why are people still sleeping on the streets? Why is the city’s homeless population growing even though shelters are almost always full? Is offering a bed enough—or is there something much deeper at play? And what’s really stopping the city from turning the tide?
Over the past several years, San Francisco has expanded its shelter system more than most major cities in the U.S. But despite the increased capacity, homelessness continues to rise, and tents still line sidewalks across the city. Clearly, the issue goes beyond just the number of available beds.
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Let’s take a closer look at what’s really going on—and why this crisis isn’t going away.
2. A Growing Shelter System That’s Still Not Enough
San Francisco has increased its shelter system over the past five years by about 28% to accommodate rising interest . Compared to other U.S. cities, San Francisco has more shelter beds per capita than Los Angeles and Chicago . Only New York City, Boston, and Washington D.C. have more beds .
Despite this increase, nearly every bed in San Francisco is filled each night. Demand exceeds supply, and, it is clear that adding shelter beds is not keeping up with increasing demand.
3. The Harsh Reality: Homelessness Keeps Rising
Though there are now more shelter beds available than ever, homelessness in San Francisco is escalating at alarming levels. Since 2021, the city’s number of unhoused residents has increased by 43% , a jump that shelters alone aren’t able to address…