Bayview community advocates propose CARD program to address homelessness crisis

In a recent San Francisco County government meeting, discussions centered around the proposed Community Alternative Response Team (CART) program, aimed at addressing homelessness in the Bayview Hunters Point area. Advocates emphasized the need for a compassionate, community-led response to homelessness, highlighting the inadequacies of current police interventions.

The meeting featured passionate testimonies from community members and organizations advocating for the CART initiative. Gwen, a local advocate, underscored the urgency of the program, stating that it would provide essential services to individuals experiencing homelessness, reducing reliance on police responses during crises. She noted that existing outreach efforts often fall short, particularly in areas like Bayview, where the homeless population is concentrated.

Wesley Saver, policy manager for Glide, presented data indicating that a significant portion of the homeless population faces systemic barriers, including racial inequality and criminalization. He argued that the current policing approach fails to connect individuals with necessary services and exacerbates their struggles. Saver advocated for CART as a means to redirect resources away from law enforcement and towards community support.

Adriana Camarena, involved in the development of CART, shared insights from a year-long consensus-building process that included input from over two dozen community organizations and unhoused individuals. She emphasized the importance of a new dispatch system that prioritizes compassionate responses over traditional complaint-driven models.

Despite the enthusiasm for CART, concerns were raised regarding its integration with existing emergency response teams, particularly the Street Crisis Response Team and the Fire Department. Supervisors expressed the need for further collaboration to ensure that the program complements rather than complicates current services. Chief Nicholson and Chief Pang from the Fire Department highlighted the importance of clear communication and coordination among all response teams to avoid delays in care for individuals in crisis.

The proposed budget for CART is estimated at $6.8 million, intended to fund a dedicated team capable of responding to low-priority calls related to homelessness. However, supervisors noted that many details, including the exact staffing and operational protocols, still need to be finalized.

As the meeting concluded, there was a consensus on the necessity of a community-driven approach to address homelessness, with a commitment to continue discussions on how to effectively implement CART while enhancing existing services. The dialogue highlighted the critical need for a compassionate response to homelessness that prioritizes the dignity and well-being of individuals in crisis.