San Francisco's Mayor Says City Is Solving Homeless Problem

Back in 2004, the city of San Francisco launched an ambitious ten year plan aimed at ending homelessness in the city by creating 3,000 permanent housing units as substitutes for shelters.

Now at the six-year mark, San Francisco's mayor, Gavin Newsom, is claiming the city is more than halfway toward its goal, having, thus far, created almost 1,700 housing units.

The mayor tells Bay City News that, while homelessness in the city has not been eradicated, the homeless population has decreased for the first time in three decades.

Besides creating housing for the homeless, the plan also envisions a greatly expanded support structure and social services, even at this time of great fiscal crisis in the city and the entire state of California.

Newsom, who is thinking about running for Lt. Governor of the state, also says that more than 1,900 people have volunteered so far to participate in what is officially known as "Project Homeless Connect."