Over the last two decades, San Francisco has paid the travel expenses home for about 11,000 homeless individuals, not from the area, to reduce its homeless population on city streets, under a program called Homeward Bound.
But since the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer are taking advantage of the program, perhaps, officials say because of a recent change in how it was administered.
Now the county’s Board of Supervisors is trying to reignite the program with a new ordinance—unanimously approved March 19—that will return administration of the program next month to the original agency that oversaw it when it began in 2005.
“Unfortunately, over the last few years [the program] got buried in bureaucracy, was no longer utilized or promoted,” said Supervisor Ahsha Safaí, who proposed the new ordinance during the recent meeting. He said the revamp would “codify” the program and “elevate” it as a tool at the city’s disposal to help get homeless people off San Francisco streets and on the right track.
Since its inception through 2019, the program has helped as many as 1,000 per year. But last year, it helped only 300 people, according to Mr. Safaí.
According to the ordinance, one reason for the dropoff in numbers may have to do with a change in the agency that offers the travel and relocation support.
It was once administered by the county’s Human Services Agency—which provides cash and services for the homeless—but more recently, was shifted to the county’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, which, as its name implies, is more focused on finding housing.
Citing a report by the San Francisco Chronicle, only 271 individuals took advantage of the program during the 2021–22 fiscal year compared with 447 individuals in 2020–21 and 628 in 2019–20, according to the ordinance.
The ordinance re-establishes the program through the Human Services Agency and will also be offered by the homeless and supportive housing department.
“The scope of people now that will be served by this legislation is broader,” Mr. Safaí said during the meeting.
Those eligible include people who have recently experienced homelessness or who are currently now, and those who are recipients or applicants of the county’s adult assistance cash program.
Both agencies administering the program must also make direct contact with a family member, friend, or coworker who’s expected to receive and care for those from the recipient’s travel destination, according to the ordinance. They must make contact again within 90 days to see if housing has been found for recipients in their new location.
The agencies must also report annually how many people were helped through the program and additional data including money spent as well as outcomes for recipients.
