The June 5, 2025, meeting of the San Francisco City Council focused on the city's budget and strategies to address homelessness and public safety amidst a significant budget deficit. The meeting highlighted the administration's priorities, which include public safety, street cleanliness, and services for the homeless population.

City officials reported a daunting budget deficit of nearly $800 million, necessitating tough decisions during the budget process. Despite these challenges, the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) has managed to maintain current programming and fund the mayor's priorities without cutting interim housing beds or permanent housing units. However, the proposed budget does include a reduction of approximately $1.4 million in funding for Project Homeless Connect, a program aimed at connecting homeless individuals with care.

Mayor Lohrey's budget proposal also seeks to increase investments in interim housing and address vehicular homelessness, which has seen a 37% increase since 2022. The city plans to implement a multi-faceted strategy to tackle this issue, including the establishment of an RV and oversized vehicle task force and outreach teams to engage individuals living in vehicles.

The meeting underscored the importance of integrating services across various departments to improve outcomes for those experiencing homelessness. The mayor's "Breaking the Cycle" directive aims to enhance collaboration between the homelessness, substance use disorder, and behavioral health systems, addressing the interconnected crises affecting many residents.

In addition to budget discussions, the meeting provided updates on ongoing outreach efforts. In April, the homeless outreach team conducted nearly 300 housing assessments and made over 300 placements to shelters. The city is also focusing on homelessness prevention, having provided assistance to 1,923 households this fiscal year.

The proposed budget will now be reviewed by the Board of Supervisors, with public comment scheduled for June 23. City officials expressed their commitment to preserving staffing and programs throughout the budget process, emphasizing the need for continued advocacy and collaboration to address the pressing issues facing San Francisco's homeless population.