SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco Mayor London Breed recently promised a more aggressive approach to clearing the city’s encampments. Crews dismantled several encampments last week. CBS News Bay Area returned to three different locations and found that tents had returned to those locations as well.
“That (tent) definitely wasn’t here this morning. That gentleman just moved in,” Ramsey Armstrong said as he walked along Treat Avenue.
Armstrong works at a hair salon across the street from the Treat Avenue encampment. City workers cleared the area about five days ago. A few people returned Sunday morning to set up their tents.
“As soon as the police leave, they’re coming back the next day,” Armstrong said. “Where are they going? I mean, it doesn’t surprise me at all.”
Ramsey said this happens every time after a camp is cleared.
“What’s the point of doing this if there’s no long-term solution for these people? Yes, you have to be aggressive, but you also have to be aggressive to have a sustainable system,” Armstrong said.
Nearby, on Folsom Street between 18th and 19th streets, a few people living in tents admitted that the city had cleared out their tents several days ago.
“This is what’s happening. I’ve been watching this for a long time. I’ve lived here for over 40 years,” Susan Patton-Fox said.
The situation was similar on Willow Street in the Tenderloin neighborhood. City workers offered shelter and removed tents several times last week. Police even made one arrest, but by Sunday afternoon there were few new tents and many campers, some seen doing drugs.
“They’ve definitely increased the regularity and the timeliness,” Anthony Schliecher said of the camp cleanup.
Schliecher is homeless and was standing at the corner of Willow and Larkin streets.
“Not everyone wants help, not everyone does it. It’s sad. Some people just aren’t ready,” Schliecher said.
He said he had turned down previous offers of shelter because he felt like he was in prison. Others said they wanted apartments, not rooms they would have to share with strangers.
“It’s not just a drug problem, there’s a lot of mental health issues here,” said Jeff Duhadway, who is homeless.
Neighbors said a permanent solution would require more housing, more social workers and, ultimately, a lot more money than the city may have.
“All the (mayoral) candidates talk about what they want to do for the homeless, but of course no one has a way to figure out how to create more places for these people to go,” Patton-Fox said.
Armstrong said he appreciates the city stepping up its efforts, but wants a long-term solution.
“They should have a completely flexible solution. Don’t do things just to try to get re-elected. And then, boom! Once you get elected, things fall apart again. People don’t want to see that,” Armstrong said.
And Lin
