San Francisco - One day in May, Reily, San Francisco's latest uninvited person, was caught up with the city's one-year active law enforcement strategy.

The arrested was a San Francisco police sergeant. Dennis Hoang, head of the Homeless Unit in the department.

"I asked Reily how many times had he been cited for illegal accommodation, and they said... four times," Hoang told CBS News. "We are in a moment when we no longer tolerate chronic illegal behavior."

In mid-2024, San Francisco More targeted scanning has begun Homeless camps throughout the city solve Its homelessness crisis.

“These public sidewalks are provided for the public,” Hoang said. “And, unfortunately, this is not where people store their own items.”

According to city data, between June 2024 and June this year, nearly 1,000 people have been arrested or cited for illegal camping in San Francisco.

"I'm going to be kicked out of the shelter," Riley told CBS News. "I'm going to go back to the street. I'm going to quote again, it's a broken system."

Unpopular people who spoke to CBS News said that certain shelters do not meet their needs, such as various reasons such as the need to own dormitory-style housing for roommates, not for personal property storage, and pets are not allowed.

Arrest is a last resort, only if the person repeatedly ignores multiple proposals for citations and denies the city’s shelter and services.

The city's efforts seem to have achieved visible results. Nearly half of the 8,000 homeless people living in San Francisco are sheltered, up 35% from 2019, according to city data.

In San Francisco's mission district, police and city workers face tension and emotional challenges. Jeff didn't want to share his last name and he was frustrated by his arrest. He said he sleeps outdoors by “choose.”

Jeff was asked by CBS News why he turned down the city’s help and resources. " "Where did that bring me? ”

Daniel Lurie, the Democratic San Francisco Mayor, took office in January. Voters' frustrated election According to the city's large homeless camps and their high crime rates.

Despite the crackdown on homeless camps, Lurie believes that in San Francisco, poverty or homelessness is a crime, and it is definitely not a crime.

"Our focus is to get people off the streets, into shelters, into mental health and medication beds," Lurie told CBS News.

“We lead the service,” Lurie said. “We lead with our values ​​and it’s taking care of people.”
He believes his tough criminal policy and policy focused on recovery create safer public places.
“We have been involved in a lot of business leaders in a way that we haven’t been in for a long time,” Lurie said. “There is also this sense of hope and optimism.”