DATA STORY

Healthy streets data and information

Department of Emergency Management

Our vision

Our vision is a vibrant and welcoming city where we come together to ensure that no San Franciscan is left to sleep on the streets, and our streets are safe for everyone.

Our mission

Ending unsheltered homelessness and making our neighborhoods clean and safe remains the highest priority of the City and requires an “all-hands-on-deck” approach.

Through innovative and collaborative strategies, we will lead with services first to get unsheltered San Francisco residents housing solutions and the social services they need to achieve long-term stability.  

For residents with particularly complex needs, we will use all available resources to get them the appropriate assistance and on the pathway to recovery. For people exhibiting harmful behavior or continually refusing assistance, we will use every tool we have to support their welfare, ensure the safety of our neighborhoods, and get them into care. 

Data and information

Information about Encampments

San Francisco does a tent, structure, and vehicle count every three months.

People often use tents or other structures to sleep outside.  Structures are made of a variety of objects to create space for people to sleep. People also sleep in vehicles. Vehicles can be anything from a car to an RV Camper.

Encampments are places with one or more tents, vehicles, or structures. Large Encampments have 6+ tents, vehicles, or structures in one place.

Data notes and sources

Counts of tents/structures and vehicles were previously performed every other month. Beginning in FY 2022, the data will be updated on a quarterly basis. Encampments are locations with either a tent or a vehicle. Large Encampments have either 6 or more tents/structures or 6 or more vehicles.

Street Response Dashboard

This dashboard helps us understand:

  • Estimated Population - Everyone counted during the Point in Time Count (PIT)
  • Information about Encampments
  • Operations to address encampments
Data notes and sources

Data from 2019 PIT Count for City and County of San Francisco; Data updated every year with new PIT data. Counts of tents/structures and vehicles were previously performed every other month. Beginning in FY 2022, the data will be updated on a quarterly basis. Encampments are locations with either a tent or a vehicle. HSOC engages with encampments on a daily basis. Data about HSOC's Encampment Engagements is updated quarterly.

Read below for more detail about everyone counted, encampments, and operations to address encampments.

Estimated Population—Everyone Counted During the PIT

The Point in Time Count (PIT) takes place every two years. It counts everyone experiencing homelessness in San Francisco.  People who are unsheltered are in a place not meant for humans to sleep.  People who are sheltered are in temporary housing while they look for permanent housing.   

Data notes and sources

Data from 2015, 2017, and 2019 Point In Time (PIT) Counts for City and County of San Francisco. Data from 2019 PIT Count by District; excludes Golden Gate Park and those in confidential/scattered sites throughout San Francisco.