Tell Mayor Lurie and BoS: No More Children Living on Our Streets!
Call your Mayor
Call ONE of the Supervisors. Note: only one of these Supervisors represents you. Find out which one here.
Call Script
My name is __________. I am a constituent, and my zip code is _______. I live in District _____. I am a member of Indivisible SF.
For Mayor Lurie:
I demand that Mayor Lurie overturn the 90-day Homeless Shelter Eviction policy. Housing is a human right, and there is no reason why the wealthiest city in the nation should be forcing children and families out of housing and onto the streets. I will be calling every day until this policy is overturned.”
For Board President Mandelman:
I demand that Board President Mandelman use his influence in setting legislative priorities to overturn the 90-day Homeless Shelter Eviction policy. Housing is a human right, and there is no reason why the wealthiest city in the nation should be forcing children and families out of housing.
For your Supervisor (except for District 9 and District 11 - see below):
I demand that Supervisor [Name] overturn the 90-day Homeless Shelter Eviction policy. Housing is a human right, and there is no reason why the wealthiest city in the nation should be forcing children and families out of housing and onto the streets. I will be calling every day until this policy is overturned.
Special Script for Supporting Supervisor Fielder (District 9) and Supervisor Chen (District 11):
I am calling to THANK YOU for your commitment to overturn the 90-day Homeless Shelter Eviction policy. there is no reason why the wealthiest city in the nation should be forcing children and families out of housing and onto the streets. Besides calling the mayor daily, how might I help you overturn this policy?
Additional Talking Points for Emailing:
If you prefer to email officials each day, here are some suggested talking points to add to the script above.
Faith in Action Bay Area Unhoused Immigrant Families Asks:
Eliminate the city’s policy of evicting families from shelters
Ensure that all Access Point and shelter workers have empathy and competence
Create more rent subsidies
Create a work program for families who do not have jobs
Create a basic income for those who cannot work
Protect Immigrant Families
Highlight the disproportionate impact on immigrant families, many of whom face additional barriers such as language difficulties, limited resources, and fear of deportation.
Emphasize that San Francisco’s sanctuary city status is undermined by policies that force immigrant families, including asylum seekers, onto the streets.
Propose targeted support for immigrant families, such as culturally competent case management and legal assistance.
Prioritize Children’s Well-being
Stress the detrimental effects of homelessness on children’s education, mental health, and overall development. Nearly 3,000 unhoused students in San Francisco schools are already at risk.
Advocate for policies that prioritize stable housing solutions for families with children to ensure continuity in education and reduce trauma.
Increase Shelter Capacity and Housing Solutions
Push for expanded shelter capacity in all districts and accelerated distribution of rent subsidies to transition families into permanent housing.
Demand accountability for the $50 million allocated in 2024 to address family homelessness, ensuring it is effectively utilized to meet urgent needs.
Align Policies with Sanctuary City Values
Urge city officials to align homelessness policies with San Francisco’s sanctuary city principles by offering compassionate and inclusive solutions rather than punitive measures like evictions.
Highlight the contradiction between the city’s progressive reputation and its treatment of unhoused families.
Long-Term Solutions Over Short-Term Fixes
Advocate for a shift away from temporary shelter limits toward long-term investments in affordable housing, job training programs, childcare support, and mental health services.
Propose a family homelessness prevention program modeled after successful initiatives elsewhere, focusing on financial aid and early intervention.
Background
San Francisco has reinstated a controversial 90-day policy limiting family stays in homeless shelters, which has sparked widespread concern among immigrant families and advocates. This policy, paused during the pandemic, was reinstated in December 2024 by the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) to address the growing shelter waitlist and prioritize families living unsheltered. Families can apply for up to three 30-day extensions if they demonstrate progress toward securing housing, but many have reported difficulties navigating the extension process, leading to evictions[1][8][9].
Impact on Immigrant Families
Immigrant families are disproportionately affected by this policy due to their precarious housing situations and limited resources. Many families, including migrants from Central America and South America, have reported receiving eviction notices despite actively working toward housing stability—such as attending case manager meetings or applying for subsidies. For example, Vilma Arias, a Honduran mother of two, faced eviction despite having an upcoming subsidy appointment[5][8]. Maria Flores, a Peruvian asylum seeker, expressed fears about the trauma her son might experience from being forced onto the streets[4][6].
Advocates argue that this policy exacerbates the vulnerability of immigrant families, many of whom are already dealing with challenges such as language barriers, lack of employment opportunities, and fear of deportation. Critics have highlighted that San Francisco's status as a sanctuary city conflicts with its approach to shelter evictions, which leaves families—including children—at risk of homelessness[7][9].
Community Response
The policy has triggered protests and rallies organized by groups like Faith in Action Bay Area and public school educators. Advocates have called on Mayor Daniel Lurie and city officials to reverse the policy, emphasizing its detrimental impact on children’s education and mental health. Teachers report that nearly 3,000 students across San Francisco are unhoused, a number likely to increase under this policy[3][9].
While some families have received temporary extensions following advocacy efforts, the uncertainty remains high. For instance, Vilma Arias and Maria Flores were granted an extension until April 10 after protests but still face looming eviction deadlines[4][6]. Critics argue that the policy fails to address the root causes of homelessness in one of the nation’s most expensive cities and instead creates additional stress for families already struggling to survive[7][8].
Broader Implications
San Francisco’s shelter stay limit reflects broader tensions in urban homelessness policies—balancing resource allocation with individual needs. While HSH claims the policy is more compassionate compared to other cities like New York (which limits stays to 60 days), advocates insist it does not align with San Francisco’s sanctuary city ideals or adequately support immigrant families seeking stability[9].
References
[1] San Francisco families face evictions under reinstated 90 Day policy https://www.kalw.org/bay-area-news/2025-01-22/san-francisco-families-face-evictions-under-reinstated-90-day-policy
[2] Families in San Francisco shelters afraid to end up on streets as the ... https://abc7news.com/post/families-san-francisco-shelters-afraid-end-streets-city-implements-90-day-stay-limit/15870391/
[3] Homeless mothers fight shelter evictions at S.F. rally - El Tecolote https://eltecolote.org/content/en/sf-homeless-family-shelter-evictions-rally/
[4] Mothers facing homelessness, eviction from San Francisco shelter ... https://abc7news.com/post/mothers-facing-homelessness-eviction-san-francisco-shelter-get-30-day-extension/16004349/
[5] Families Say They Are Being Evicted From SF Homeless Shelters https://patch.com/california/san-francisco/families-say-they-are-being-evicted-sf-homeless-shelters
[6] Homeless migrant children win shelter extension after city eviction ... https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/10/migrant-children-evicted-san-francisco-homeless-shelter/
[7] San Francisco group rallies to protest evictions at homeless shelters https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/san-francisco-group-rallies-to-protest-evictions-at-homeless-shelters/
[8] S.F. is Evicting Homeless Families From Shelters. Here's What to ... https://centerforhealthjournalism.org/our-work/reporting/sf-evicting-homeless-families-shelters-heres-what-know
[9] San Francisco shelters evicting families after 90 days, despite Mayor Lurie’s promise https://localnewsmatters.org/2025/03/11/san-francisco-shelters-evicting-families-after-90-days-despite-mayor-luries-promise/
[10] Community Impact | Eviction Defense Collaborative https://evictiondefense.org/edc-community-impact/
[11] End the Experimental Shelter Evictions! - Action Network https://actionnetwork.org/forms/end-shelter-evictions
[12] After two families nearly faced eviction from a San Francisco shelter ... https://www.instagram.com/eltecolotesf/p/DHE6mcbySBI/
[13] SF Homeless Shelters Struggle to Accommodate Migrant Families https://www.sfpublicpress.org/more-migrants-families-are-trying-to-access-shelter-while-sf-underestimates-need-service-providers-say/
[14] San Francisco advocates push back against possible evictions at ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QKX-E-AtBQ
[15] UnHoused Families' Impending Exit to Streets Averted https://peoplestribune.org/2025/03/unhoused-families-impending-exit-to-streets-averted/
[16] S.F. is evicting homeless families from shelters. Here’s what to know https://eltecolote.org/content/en/sf-homeless-shelter-family-evictions/
[17] Immigrant Services and Resources https://www.sf.gov/departments--immigrant-services-and-resources