clinic in harlem and i have empathy and understanding. it's my childhood. i think i had amazing childhood but i grew up with individuals detected to heroin. they were afraid of the visit system. they had no place to go and it was a terrible situation, so i think that i had the perfect childhood to do the work they do, and i am proud of the fact that i sponsored legislation passed by the board of supervisors that people could purchase sir ridges from walgreens or other stores without a prescription and i did that. i support needle exchange. of course we have to work together when there are a lot of needles that are discarded in places where the public can be and we are a city

with needle exchange and a major reason the epidemic hasn't taken the course in san francisco as it has in much of america and i think we did a great service there so i definitely see that alcohol is an addition. it's not a personal weakness on the part of an individual. it's not something that someone can change and the people that i met at eastlake had powerful stories so when the mayor went we went to a gentleman's room and he was excited to meet the mayor and even though he was a native of washington state he lived in san francisco for years and he had spice bottles and he complained he didn't have big enough pots and it's an efficiency room and the mayor asked "why do you need so large pots" and he said i make soup and i entice my

friends to accept housing so i certainly recognize the dignity and worth of every individual no matter what station they're in in their life and i see enormous possibilities so i absolutely think your message is a very important one to keep in mind and as you imagine i deal with very age ree people that want people to go away and disappear and i understand they think the city can do better and on the other hand we have to recognize people are complicated. that's why facebook is so successful and when they ask about relationships. it's complicated and everybody has a path and we have to do the best they can and at times ask them to make better decisions and living under the freeway is not a good decision and we will take a different approach when caltrans is at fifth and king and instead of stabilization beds and

scattering people we will lease the church on howard and six and move the entire community over and invite the coalition of homelessness and realize they have value. i talk about the coalition a lot because we have been polarized and you need your critics close to you and they have a voice. our shelter beds are pretty much full. if you take on to that area and is difficult because muni doesn't run out there and we have 234 stabilization beds that are sro and stabilization beds as you know are an important tool for long-term street dwellers and they don't want to go into the

shelter so you need a stabilization room so we have 234. we don't have more than five at a given time so barbara garcia from the health department, trent from human services, myself and engaged with the mayor's budget office and i can't respond to the reelection. i can't change what is going on division or any of the neighborhoods unless i have a tool of stabilization beds and one of the challenges is people are not as successful as they are being in that housing that's the population that should be able to move up and until we make more units available we don't have a exit strategy for people and i am sure you know people if they're in housing that's where they are. they're not advancing anywhere and so we really have to look at what we can do to open up some positive exits for people into that housing. >> thank you. wendy.

>> bevan dufty, i would like to commend you. all this hard work and you're right. it's going to be very challenging to try to end it, which i know probably it won't, but you're right. we need to continue to get places where people can get a bed at least if nothing else. like i see so many buildings in san francisco that are boarded up that are not in use and have been boarded up for years. i have been in san francisco for about 16 years, and i myself have been homeless, and have lived in a shelter, and the experience there was not a good one, and i have lived in sro's. luckily now i have housing but it's subsidized housing, and that's a step up, but it's still not my own and i couldn't afford it because i am on disability

and i know there are a lot of people like me. i am also a senior with a disability, so it's very challenging to try to get move up somewhere that's decent and be on your own and i know people on the streets would like a place of their own and i know it's a big challenge but if we could open up some of the empty buildings that have been empty for years and years, and put housing in there, or open a shelter where we can have beds for these people and might have a semi-temporary housing so they can move up in the world. if we can help them more that would be great but i don't know how we can do that, and maybe you know more than i do, and maybe you can help us figure this out because i know this is very challenging, and you've done a lot of hard work, and there is still more to do, so if there is anything that we can do let us

know, and the general public also. >> i think it would be good to invite the mayor's office on housing and a presentation on proposition c and the voters voted for a affordable housing trust fund. when i was a supervisor i voted with mr. avalos and increased the property transfer taxes and created a lot of money and it's good and it can be $120 million. some years it's $8 million so it's a volatile source of income, but what was done by mayor lee and consensus with a lot of stakeholders let's take the properties between 1 million, and 5 million so there is an on going source. the last time the voters passed

a bond like that was in 86 and it failed twice because it required a 2/3 vote and the trust fund did extremely and i think it would be good to have a presentation because i am aware there is a mix of housing. some is focused on low income and some is work force housing and i understand they want first responder housing for firefighters and police to live in the city and i think it would be good to have a presentation on prop c and i think you can advocate for individuals at the level you're describing and the importance of developing housing for them. i do want to say they think the excitement we created around barb and we got additional building that we the

partnership applied through the continuum of care and it's for chronically homeless. it maybe for transitionally young adults or veterans. there are possibilities we're working on now and the va is happy with the program and i would call it damp housing and you can't drink there but you can get drunk around the corner and it's not a great model but it's 24 units of housing and i am hard pressed to turn it down so there we will have to apply for it, but having different providers come talk to you and you share with them some of the concerns or experiences that people have. i think it would be great to invite the housing authority commission to come and talk and i am concerned about the individual it's the housing authority doesn't have

funding for social services and being connected to different areas of government is essential and to nancy cross' concerns i would say that chp is opening up the rene [inaudible] apartments and at second and folsom and i believe 120 units that are going to be there. it's a large building under construction there and they are considering being a smoke free environment so if you want to make nancy happen and issue a letter and encourage that and that will make her very happy, and it maybe a housing she might accept. that would make me very happy. >> thank you. thank you so much. >> okay. thank you. >> pleasure to see you again and thank you for the work you have done for the city -- >> bring your mic up.

>> upon occasion i go out i see a lot of homeless elderly, and my heart breaks for them because i know so many things aren't really accessible for them and they have a multitude of issues including disabilities too, and i am just wondering about that and i am thinking about that in the sense of transportation. i am just wondering if they have one or two buses available for the homeless. i have seen mothers with children and i am wondering how do they get around? how are they able to get to appointments? >> on the senior issue we have continued the shelter access workgroups that we started which i discussed three on one approach for reservations and supervisor kim's involvement so right now we're looking at shelter related services and

we're looking -- we're going to have a work group on seniors so i will share with your director information about that. if you or people you're in contact with if you go to the shelters there are many seniors living there. one of the challenges situations we have there are individuals in shelter who cannot perform activities of daily living so they are individuals they can't attend to their toilet needs, caring for themselves, and it is very, very difficult, and it's difficult for the shelters because they're not equipped to provide that level of care and support, and so i think that what i hope to see is a shelter that has a stepped up medical component to it, so certainly with the opening of kelly cullin community on golden gate that will have a clinic located right there and i think that's obviously the gold standard of what we would want to see, but i definitely think there is need

for a shelter that is focused on seniors and disabled individuals because again there are many individuals that have -- they maybe under very serious treatment, chemotherapy, and other treatment and they're in a shelter which is difficult and don't have the abilities and i welcome your oversight and participation in the work group and recommendations. >> i have one other question. i see a lot of teenos the street, a lot and i am just wondering what is happening with their lives? >> so there is a transitional age youth plan that the city has embraced and part of that is developing 400 units of housing. larkin youth services is developing edwin the second on lombard street. there was battling with the community which was unfortunate but that was approved and that will open next year and will open through the continuum of care. i am interested in that being teen

housing and with the coalition of hate ashbury and there are few services there and that's part of the reason people aren't moving. yes it's a mobile population. yes they're going to seattle, portland, san francisco and they're young people and they don't have housing to refer people to and again a young person -- a housing authority list that is closed for five years is no relevancy in addressing that, so i am hopeful we have a meeting in the next two weeks with them to see what we can do but i think that is important. i am proud of the fact larkin street created the housing in the castro. you don't really see it but it's the hotel right there, the paramount, and we have 20 individuals there. it's a seven year program and i am hoping to take over the entire building.

>> thank you. harriet. >> thank you bevan dufty. >> thank you. >> just one question i guess. what is the security like for someone living in the shelter? >> that's an excellent question, and i really think it depends on what your circumstances are. who are you? so if you're someone that has maybe been in the system and knows people you maybe secure but i have many people that will not go into the shelters and people that feel because they're not part of the community in a shelter that they won't be accepted. i didn't have the opportunity to talk about the fact that i have been working with supervisor campos. deloras street services is successful. they have the smaller shelters and because they're smaller from an individual standpoint it's not as daunt to go into them, but

deloras street has 57 beds at south van ness and 21st street and an amazing beautiful building. it's sunny and van ness street and many of you know connie ford and part of the labor council. she has her offices there. there is a child care center there and 57 beds and everybody exists together which we need more examples of but the second floor opened up with 24 units and deloras street and supervisor campos got a grant for the first lgbt shelter in san francisco and we were excited about that and a dozen years ago the prior executive director never closed the permit and it was designed for the 57 beds but there was basic code enforcement upgrades for the existing 57 beds so we had

$130,000 gap and working with supervisor campos and activists and the housing alliance and i am pleased to tell you this week a construction company came in to be the construction manager and make cash contributions and we have a contribution of third thousand dollars and we hope to have this plan next week and i bring this up because individuals that are lgbt are uncomfortably and unsafe. there is a lesbian couple that came from tennessee. they went to the shelters and didn't feel safe and prepared to be on the streets so it's difficult. i know there are many people that feel uncomfortable. what i see 10 years ago to now with shelters is tremendously better but i think the shelter monitoring community is a

important process and i go to and i participate in it and i think it's important to support that process where people can come forward and register their concerns and complaints and i think we're still striving to address and i hope people will come forward with their experiences to my office or to the shelter monitoring process. >> so at these shelters are there cameras? >> there are cameras at different shelters and facilities. there are. >> okay. actually one more question -- >> and as much as i said that i want to recognize the providers work very hard and i have been at many programs and i see individuals who -- i see respect from staff to clients, clients to staff. i don't want to pour them out. it's challenging. it's difficult because people

waited in lines. they have to go through metal detectors. sometimes they need to leave early in the morning so the providers are working very hard but there are people that won't access the shelters and people that don't feel safe and for a transgendered individual i understand how difficult it is and not welcomed on either side of the shelter and you feel you can't go there. i don't accept that but i acknowledge it and that is important. i don't want to leave this critical and all shelters are bad and they wouldn't be that full if they were bad. it's challenging. you will never win. we have to keep working on it. >> also you mentioned about the 3 million, and 1 million went to -- >> from the drop in center, the

resource center and a million to the shelter. >> okay. thank you. >> thank you very much. is there anymore questions from any of the staff or mod? thanks guys very much -- sorry carla. >>i would like to say thank you to come to speak to us today. it's clear to me that you bring that same commitment and passion and drive to this position that you brought to all of your other previous positions with the city and i think we're lucky to have you at hope. i would ask you if you can repeat the number one more time and i am sure people want to reach you415. >> -554-5646and bevan. dufty at sfgov .org and i have a team of three

individuals that work with me. we love going to anyplace and invite us to come and see something or participate and i will share with director johnson information both about the cell phone life lines and ways that we can partner together. i think it's very exciting to do things together. i will try to think of individuals who have overcome adversity to be successful in programs that might be good to bring to your attention, and you can certainly help me in this work, and as i said just even if it's appropriate and you send a letter to chp to say that you have consistent advocacy around smoke free environments and supportive is a great thing and i will think of people to present before the council as i am so you know what is going on in terms of affordable housing and other initiatives important to the consichancy served.

>> thank you very much. oh my god we go back. >> we always hug on muni. we make muni a party bus. >> exactly, thank you. thank you very much dufty and now we will be opening this up for public comment. we have charles masters. >> on this item? >> yes. on 6a. yeah. >> yes. thank you. i am charles masters i am i resident of the richmond district for 25 years. a couple things. this life line cell phone service. it's great. last year i went to a hearing at the public utilities commission and at&t was proposed to eliminate the life line service. they are the largest communications company in the world by revenue and they were -- i don't know see them

down here. i am wondering if the city is speaking against at&t's plans for the advocacy and that is good and affects so many seniors and disabled in the state. it's interesting that mr. dufty said that we have an inherent problem with homelessness, and certainly under this system, which is a system he supports we will continue to i have a homeless problem with the foreclosures that we see across this country, the loss and lack of jobs there will be more homeless people. also the immigrant population that are forced out of their countries because of economic and political problems and many times created by the united states will need housing and care. i hope we have advocates come up here and speak for the senior population in this city. i'm a supporter of the senior

and disability action group that do a lot of great work in the city. i am a senior, fortunately not disabled in a rent controlled building i have been for the last 20 years. i would like to move. i would like to get into a building that has services when it's tough to move around. they're not there or lines that last for 10, 15 years and again we need those services definitely. i work 42 years. i supported this system and now the system isn't here for me when i need it and i am also a veteran. thank you. >> thank you sir. is there anymore public comment? we have someone on the bridge line? >> okay. nancy cross. >> just a minute nancy. we

have someone on the bridge line. if you could -- let the bridge and we will go right back to you. >> go right ahead. >> okay. thank you very much for having this service. my name is keith dennis. i'm a very strong advocate for laguna honda hospital. >> mr. dennis you're getting interferancy. could you mute your tv? >> yes. am i okay now? >> yes. >> okay. yes i'm a very strong advocate for laguna honda hospital. a couple years ago they were slated to have assisted living facility. could this committee comment on that?

is that still in the works or what is going on? >> mr. dennis, you can contact the office and you can ask for joanna and give you an update on that. >> okay. thank you very much. >> is there anyone else on the bridge line? okay. would you like -- nancy. >> in referencing the proposed way of handling people inebriants and the need for

some housing compared to say the need to do away with having sro's and shelters smoke denies and the contingent of smoking addicts in the city. i had the opportunity a week ago to ask for time with supervisor kim, and i said about these sro's -- supervisor mar who you recognize is the special voice for smoke free housing in resident hotels and public facilities and he brought up a point that i hadn't seen addressed but it seems to be bothering him. if you decide

making rules for s rear -- sro to be smoke free the state will subsidized. sometimes you hear the state won't let them have smoke free buildings and that's what i was told by tenderloin housing authority compliance officer to justify it that have the right to smoke and they have people who are smokers and the supervisor said "if you make a rule that the sro is going to be smoke free building from now on, make a rule like that just as they did successfully without any complaints, and i was there at next door shelter, the biggest shelter when supervisor mar's ordinance came into effect. i was listening. no

complaints. that big huge thing and people had a right to say what they did they located outside and make a big smoky place on the street instead. now, i think this should not be tolerated either. supervisor mar we asked about a week ago the problem is if you made that role then people and would get eviction notice for smoking then they're on the street. well, i haven't heard that angle before but i can see how that is resolved by a little mathematics and employer -- what the present residents want. i met people in the sro's that are subjected to the atmosphere but no