S.F. opens police-friendly center to care for homeless

The San Francisco Department of Public Health opened a 16-bed stabilization center at 822 Geary St. to provide care for homeless individuals in crisis. The facility operates around the clock, receiving patients who need lower-level medical attention rather than emergency care. Mayor Daniel Lurie highlighted the urgent need to address the ongoing crisis of overdose deaths in the city. While the center can only accommodate patients for 23 hours, officials plan to assign case managers to guide them to further treatment.

The city currently has a significant shortage of shelter beds, with 525 individuals waiting for placement. Lurie pledged to expand shelter capacity by 1,500 beds within six months of taking office. Kunal Modi, Chief of Health, Homelessness, and Family Services, noted that the stabilization center is just one part of a broader strategy. The center's operational costs remain unclear, but it will be staffed with qualified personnel to ensure patient safety and care.