Dear Community Members,

During a recent discussion with Matt Dorsey and SFPD captain Luke Martin on site at 1174 Folsom, it became evident that the decision ultimately rests in the hands of Mayor London Breed. Dorsey indicated that it is crucial for us to direct our concerns and appeals to Mayor Breed directly, as she holds the power to reconsider the project and address our community's valid concerns.

In light of this update, I urge each and every one of you to take immediate action and email Mayor Breed to express your opposition to the proposed project. We need to come together as a community and make our voices heard in order to have a real chance at influencing the decision-making process. Time is of the essence, and the sooner we flood Mayor Breed's inbox with our emails, the greater our chances of being heard. Let's make it clear to Mayor Breed that our community stands united in urging her to reconsider this project and find alternative solutions that address homelessness while ensuring the safety and well-being of our community.

Please find below the contact information for Mayor Breed:

Email: MayorLondonBreed@sfgov.org

Sample Email:

Dear Mayor Breed,

I hope this letter finds you well. As a concerned member of our West SoMa community, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed conversion of the property located at 1174-1178 Folsom Street into permanent supportive housing for young adults exiting homelessness. I firmly believe that this project is not in the best interest of youth exiting homelessness, nor our community.  I urge you to reconsider approving this project l as currently proposed.

Firstly, I would like to emphasize that my concerns are not rooted in opposition to supporting homeless individuals. I am deeply committed to finding effective solutions and assisting those experiencing homelessness in our city. However, I firmly believe that the chosen location for this project raises legitimate concerns about the well-being and safety of transitional youth and our community in West SoMa. I respectfully request that you take these concerns into serious consideration.

One of the key concerns that I would like to address is the lack of equity and burden-sharing across San Francisco neighborhoods. The concentration of shelters and supportive housing projects in SoMa West, as highlighted by a Google Maps search, reveals an imbalance in resource distribution. There are three large Episcopal housing projects on the same block, one on the same alley (Sumner st). It is unfair to burden one neighborhood with an excessive number of housing services while other districts, particularly those west of Van Ness Avenue, contribute significantly fewer resources. I urge our supervisors and city leaders to recognize and address this issue before proceeding with additional housing services.

Moreover, there are specific concerns regarding this proposed project that I would like to highlight. These concerns include:

• Absence of Mandatory Drug Testing and Abstinence Policies: The lack of mandatory illegal drug tests or on-site requirements for drug abstinence is concerning. The adoption of a harm reduction approach, as stated by the 24/7 staff, raises concerns about the potential financial strain on the city to sustain this level of care. I urge you to consider implementing measures to ensure a safe and drug-free environment. This is in line with our elected district supervisor - Matt Dorsey’s proposal on abstinence based recovery. We strongly urge you to take his recommendation seriously. 
• Lack of Incentives for Employment: The current system allows youth to reside in the project without being required to work or pay rent. This lack of incentives to seek employment leads to a significant percentage of youth being unemployed and not attending school. It is essential that the project encourages self-sufficiency and provides opportunities for residents to contribute positively to society. It is a fact, that there are youth in the Larkin/ Edward center in the Marina that remain without a job for 6 years now, simply because there is no incentive to do so. 
• Lack of Motivation to Exit Harmful Habits: The chosen facility is situated in the area known for its nightlife and is also within a block from the largest drug distribution site in the city. Three popular night clubs are situated within 50 feet from the address. The addicts who sit in the alley ways of Sumner st and Rodgers st are in direct view of residents of this building, and TAYs have expressed to us that this is a trigger. All this puts a tremendous risk of spreading illegal drug use further into West Soma and not helping building healthy habits. As you are well aware 16% of the OD deaths have been inside of permanent supportive housing projects, and I am without doubt this trend will hold true at this site too.
• Lack of Transparency and Community Involvement: The decision-making process regarding this project has lacked transparency and meaningful community engagement. Not all residents and businesses were adequately informed about the public session, and local businesses remain unaware and uninformed about this project. A restaurant - Bay of Burma, at this building, opened it’s doors early June this year, with zero knowledge of HSH’s proposal to purchase this building. This is the extent of negligence at HSH, and it’s greed in acquiring this developer default bank owned 20+ million dollar property. This 42 unit luxury condo building is helping sustain some local businesses, but instead, the current residents are going to be kicked out and replaced with non-participants of the local economy. You are aware that businesses are closing across SoMa and immediately in our area many small businesses and larger ones like Cole Hardware and Whole Foods have already closed shop. It is crucial to consider the thoughts and concerns of the tax paying residents and businesses in the West Soma community, who will be directly impacted by this project.
• Safety Concerns and Neighborhood Impact: West SoMa has many challenges, and this proposed project does not solve any of them. It does the opposite in many ways exposing me to more risk. You can not guarantee that misbehavior will not spill out onto the alleyways, and the police department already does not respond to my calls, often late in the night. The proposed location of the permanent supportive housing facility raises significant safety concerns for our community. My family and I are at risk daily, hoping over needles and weaving through people drunk, having mental issues or shooting up. I have photo and video evidence of this, which when presented to the program staff, falls on deaf ears or the standard “they are outside our premises, call PD” response. The proximity to schools, parks, and residential areas creates potential risks for the safety and security of our community members, especially vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly. I believe that alternative locations can be identified through open and inclusive dialogue, striking a better balance between providing support and preserving community well-being.

Given these concerns, I respectfully request that you reconsider the proposed conversion of 1174-1178 Folsom Street into permanent supportive housing. I believe that our community's well-being and safety should be prioritized in decision-making processes. I urge you to engage in open and meaningful dialogue with the community, exploring alternative solutions that address the needs of the homeless population while ensuring the stability and tranquility of our community.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I trust that you will give my concerns the serious consideration they deserve and prioritize the best interests of our community in your decision-making process.