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Latinx families are among the hardest-hit in San Francisco\u2019s homelessness crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, approximately 400 families in the city are experiencing homelessness \u2014 a staggering 98% increase since 2022, according to the latest Point-in-Time count. This surge affects both newly arrived immigrants from Latin America and long-time Latinx residents, many of whom lost stable employment during the pandemic and have struggled with skyrocketing rents, limited affordable housing, and the high cost of living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With shelter beds and housing vouchers critically scarce, 90% of these families sleep in vehicles, while others find temporary refuge on city streets or in shelters, often splitting up to do so. Language barriers, the complexity of city support systems, and concerns over immigration scrutiny compound these challenges, advocates report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In response to this growing crisis, here\u2019s how District 9 candidates answered the question: How would you address the rising number of Latinx homeless families?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Put them in the schools. We have 112 school buildings with around 8,000 fewer students than capacity, and they\u2019re considering closing some of these schools. These buildings already have electricity, heat, showers, lunchrooms, and toilets\u2014everything a family would need. Any sane society would use the buildings the public already owns and pays utilities for. It\u2019s especially concerning that many immigrant families in our school system are also homeless. Let them stay in the schools at night; bring their families in after 4:00 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\nh. brown<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n