Advocates push for San Francisco to house homeless in empty homes [Video]

SAN FRANCISCO – Advocates are pushing officials in San Francisco to fill the city’s vacant homes with unhoused residents rather than criminalizing homelessness.

Community leaders are demanding the city fill the more than 700 vacant homes it controls with unhoused residents.

This demand follows Mayor London Breed‘s call for “aggressive” sweeps of homeless encampments in August and possible penalties for unhoused residents who refuse outreach services.

“We’re hopeful we make it so uncomfortable for people that they accept our offer. That’s what this is about. This is not just about cleaning and clearing because these are people and they gotta go somewhere,” Breed previously said.

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to remove homeless camps from state-owned property, including freeways, underpasses, and city parks.

Advocates for the unhoused have raised concerns about where homeless residents will go if they do not have guaranteed housing after their removal from the streets.

Julia Arroyo, executive …