“Homeless, not Hopeless.”

-Cardboard sign held by a woman in the Tenderloin

Imagine yourself without a home, unable to immediately regain it, and losing all of the people, places and things once associated with it. Of the countless steps you now have ahead of you, what would be your first?

For nearly 7,500 San Franciscans who are experiencing homelessness on any single night, they do not have to imagine this, they are living it. Over the course of a year, that translates to about 20,000 of our neighbors who will experience homelessness at some point; some for a few weeks and others for months or years. Nearly 60% will be without any form of shelter, vulnerable to the risks of sleeping in some street, park, or underpass.

Source: San Francisco 2017 Homeless Count & Survey          

San Francisco has long strived toward the promise of a just society: one in which diversity, inclusivity, and opportunity are not only embraced but nurtured. Today, San Francisco’s position is also one of unique strength. The city boasts the country’s second-strongest economy with record-low unemployment and a boon of thriving industries.

Despite so many assets, homelessness remains one of the most enduring and complex challenges facing our city. With a growth in visible homelessness, most notably evidenced by tent encampments, it is no surprise that homelessness now ranks as the foremost concern for San Francisco voters.

Yet there are reasons for optimism. While many West Coast cities have seen a rise in people experiencing homelessness over recent years, San Francisco has seen a modest decrease. We see novel public-private partnerships forming, technology being leveraged, and a newly formed city department tasked with addressing the issue.

The momentum for change is palpable.

Against this backdrop, Battery Powered joins an engaged community of philanthropy addressing homelessness - from Tipping Point’s $100 million commitment to cut chronic homelessness in half by 2022 to Salesforce’s donations to end family homelessness. We understand that the issue of homelessness is large, daunting, and has many actors. It is important that our entrance into this space be guided by a set of defined principles.

Our approach will be driven by data and inspired by people.

Homelessness is experienced by all segments of the citizenry, ranging from families uprooted from their communities due to job loss or eviction to individuals with serious mental illness. At the same time, some populations are overrepresented among our homeless neighbors, particularly people of color and the LGBTQ community.

The solution to the crisis confronting each of these individuals and families begins with housing, but the path they take to get there and their needs for support will vary.

As such, we will focus on solutions based on meeting people where they are at and following them throughout their individual path out of crisis and on to self-determination. We believe in the wisdom of those with lived experience and encourage the integration of their voices into decision-making and solutions.

We will focus on three “moments in time” where we believe our support can make a difference:  

PREVENT: Preventing homelessness is the most practical safeguard against the trauma that follows from spending even a single night on the street. Providing support at vulnerable moments can ensure that homelessness is a rare occurrence.

SUPPORT: Homelessness is an emergency for those who experience it, and the longer a person spends homeless, the more trauma they encounter. Meeting these individuals and families where they are is key to saving lives and making the experience of homelessness brief.

HOUSE: Ending homelessness begins with a home. Supportive services alongside housing can ensure that homelessness is indeed a one-time experience.

We recognize that in focusing on San Francisco, we leave out people experiencing homelessness elsewhere in the Bay Area. Given our resources, Battery Powered felt this focus was the most responsible approach. However, we welcome approaches that support the population experiencing homelessness in San Francisco that include regional solutions.