60 Tiny Homes Open at SF’s 16th Street BART Plaza
San Francisco has just opened its latest temporary shelter program, the Mission Cabins, which will provide 60 cabins for people experiencing homelessness at 1979 Mission Street. A closed chain store parking lot in the Mission District was chosen as the site for the new Tiny Home community.
The project, modeled after the successful 33 Gough Cabins, will provide private cabins and onsite support services for individuals experiencing homelessness. The program is expected to run for at least two years until the long-term affordable housing development planned for the site breaks ground.
The Mission District neighborhood has seen a surge in homelessness, especially since the pandemic. With nearly 8,000 people unhoused in San Francisco and 4,000 without shelter, the city has a need for more navigation centers to help get people into permanent housing while more affordable housing is built.
Mission Cabins is part of the city’s ongoing efforts to expand access to temporary shelter. Since 2018, San Francisco has expanded shelter capacity by over 60%, with over 3,900 shelter beds now online and more coming online soon. These temporary shelter beds are critical as part of the city’s efforts to move people from the street, to shelter, and back to housing stability. Over the last five years, San Francisco has helped over 15,000 people permanently exit homelessness.
Mission Cabins will offer individuals experiencing homelessness a safe, temporary living environment and the services they need to move beyond homelessness. Each cabin provides a private room with a locking door, a comfortable bed, storage space, a desk, a chair, outlets, and heating. The site includes hygiene facilities, a dining area, and community space. The program will also provide meals, case management, health services and activities for guests. Staff will be onsite 24/7 to ensure the safety and well-being of residents.
Five Keys Schools and Programs was selected through a competitive process to operate the site and provide onsite social services. Through a partnership with the Department of Public Health, health services will be provided on site several days per week.
Read more at SF.gov
