The following comes from an October 20 Catholic San Francisco article by Valerie Schmalz:
It will take two-thirds of San Francisco voters to pass a $310 million housing ballot proposition aimed at buying, rehabilitating and preserving housing that middle income residents could afford as renters or homeowners.
Proposition A on the Nov. 3 ballot would also fund rehabilitation of public housing and public housing infrastructure.
The proposition is endorsed by Archdiocese of San Francisco Catholic Charities and the San Francisco Interfaith Council, as well as a broad range of housing activists, unions, nonprofits and business interests including the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, San Francisco Labor Council and San Francisco Housing Action Coalition.
Proposition A was placed on the ballot by a unanimous vote of the Board of Supervisors, with one supervisor, David Campos excused.
The board of directors of the Archdiocese of San Francisco Catholic Charities, which includes board president Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, unanimously voted to support Proposition A.
“Catholic Charities rarely takes public positions on ballot measures, however the housing crisis in San Francisco and throughout the Bay Area directly impacts the very people Catholic Charities seeks to serve as well as the staff it relies on to provide these services,” said Jeff Bialik, Catholic Charities executive director.
The San Francisco Interfaith Council is – for the first time ever – endorsing a housing bond, also by a unanimous vote of the board of directors, said executive director Michael Pappas. The Interfaith Essential Housing Task Force, created by the council last fall, also unanimously supports Proposition A.
The council created the Interfaith Essential Housing Task Force following a September 2014 dinner meeting to discuss income inequality hosted by Archbishop Cordileone at his residence, Pappas said.
Thomas Sowell and other economists have written on this topic. Best to keep government out as these measures typically have adverse consequences. As Cordileone and Catholic charities have little education in these matters, better to leave it to others who do.
housing across the nation is now a major issue, sa Francisco, new York, Washington dc are becoming out of reach gor the middle class, one city that is emerging is Philadelphia, wonderful churches 3 saints , john Neumann, Katherine Drexel and even francis cabrini have a direct conaction cabrini founded sait donato now closed but the school remains open and public transportation is free yes free for senior citizens and the disabled tell me one city in America offers free public transit William penn the founder would be proud
There are about 22 cities in the US that currently offer completely free public transit (not just for seniors and disabled).
Will the tax dollars of those of us who don’t live in San Francisco be used to pay for this?
Just remember that San Franciscans generate far more in tax revenue than they consume. Maybe we should get refunds?
San Francisco has always been a shockingly greedy, too-high-priced city– impossible for normal, middle-class people, to live in! Yet, many large cities also offer good jobs! Many job-holders are forced to commute long distances, to be able to keep their job, and also, afford a place to live! A small, no-frills family home here, costs an average of a MILLIION dollars!! And apartment are the same! Here, people are not valued, nor Christian morality! Only immorality– and M-O-N-E-Y!!! Long ago, this problem should have been tackled!!
All over the country, cities are learning that the best ways to end homelessness is to provide housing. Once housed, agencies can work with people to end drug and alcohol addiction, help with psychological counseling, job training, and other needs. There is an impressive change in people’s attitudes if they do not have to sleep on the street or in their cars or in shelters. This is an attempt, based on the article, to provide adequate housing. In San Francisco today, the average price of a condo is $1,000 per square foot, apartments rent for $2,500 per month and up. Working poor people can’t afford a place to live. This plan should help a little, at least.
There are many poor who need housing – the elderly and the working poor.
Under no circumstances should criminals and addicts be given public housing in the same buildings as the innocent poor.