Youth Advocates Urge San Francisco for Increased Housing and Support Services Funding

In a recent San Francisco County government meeting, the urgent issue of youth homelessness took center stage, as community members shared powerful testimonies highlighting the struggles faced by young people in the city. The meeting, held on July 4, 2025, aimed to address the pressing need for supportive housing and resources for vulnerable youth.

The session began with a call to action from a representative of Larkin Street Youth Services, who emphasized the mission to make youth homelessness "brief, one time, and rare." Despite technical difficulties in presenting a video of public comments, the voices of those affected were heard loud and clear.

Aiden, a resident of the Tenderloin District, passionately advocated for the creation of 50 long-term subsidy slots specifically for youth of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. He shared his personal experience with mental health challenges, underscoring the importance of stable housing as a foundation for healing. "Being stably housed makes it easier to heal without the pressure of making money to survive," he stated, highlighting the critical link between housing stability and mental health recovery.

Sierra Murray, a returning resident of San Francisco, spoke about her own struggles with unemployment and mental health after returning from a year away. She urged the Board of Supervisors to continue funding emergency housing and family support, emphasizing that many young adults face similar challenges in the wake of the pandemic.

Xander, a liaison for the Larkin Street Youth Advisory Board, shared their experience of generational homelessness and called for subsidy extensions and additional funding for transitional housing programs. They also highlighted the need for bridge housing specifically for youth in the Haight Ashbury area, a community grappling with homelessness.

Roxy Corrigan, co-chair of the youth advisory board, urged the board to invest in detox centers and safe consumption sites, sharing her own journey of recovery. "I would have been a lot more comfortable getting clean if these places were an option," she reflected, advocating for more resources to support youth struggling with addiction.

Maria Gordma, another youth advocate, called for improved employment opportunities and services for young people exiting support programs. She pointed out the dissatisfaction among clients regarding educational courses and stressed the need for equitable pathways to living-wage jobs. Additionally, she highlighted the importance of mental health services, particularly in the wake of COVID-19, calling for 24-hour access to mental health resources and basic hygiene facilities.

As the meeting concluded, the collective voices of these young advocates painted a vivid picture of the challenges faced by youth experiencing homelessness in San Francisco. Their testimonies not only underscored the urgency of the situation but also served as a rallying cry for continued support and funding to ensure that no young person has to face homelessness alone. The Board of Supervisors now faces the critical task of translating these heartfelt appeals into actionable policies that can make a tangible difference in the lives of the city’s most vulnerable residents.