Pushing back against a radical move to change SF's housing and drug policy - 48 hills

"Housing First programs are among the most effective policies there are for addressing homelessness, especially among people with SUDs and behavioral health issues. A systematic review showed that, compared with Treatment First and abstinence-based programs, Housing First programs decreased homelessness by 88%, increased housing stability by 41%, and decreased emergency department use by 5%."

"The fact or extent of a person's drug use per se is of secondary importance to the risk of harms consequent to use. Therefore, the first priority is to decrease the negative consequences of drug use to the user and to others, as opposed to focusing on decreasing the drug use itself."

San Francisco is challenging long-standing policies on housing and substance use, particularly the Housing First model, which emphasizes providing housing with minimal restrictions. This model has garnered global support from medical and social service professionals due to its effectiveness in addressing homelessness, especially among individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) and behavioral health issues. Studies show that Housing First programs significantly reduce homelessness and improve health outcomes. Harm reduction strategies also focus on minimizing the negative consequences of drug use rather than solely reducing usage, prioritizing the well-being of individuals and communities.

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