City of SF Spends $8k per Homeless Person, per Hotel Room, per Month
sfchronicle.com
sfchronicle.com
It makes sense, as it's open, active and there's no real demand otherwise from business travelers or tourists.
But, wow, $8,000 a month in social services just for being in San Francisco.
That's what a low end tech person makes in SF, after taxes (approx.) 8,000*12=96,000
While it's a annual 1.5% city income tax for residents (payroll tax.)
It also puts them in one place where they can be easily monitored and where social services can find them. Hotels also can provide food, cleaning and laundry services which many homeless might need.
Unless you have a large stock of concentrated social housing this is quite likely the most cost effective option.
It simplifies negotiations, doesn’t involve housing contracts, takes advantage of existing infrastructure and available services and doesn’t trigger NIMBYism.
They might be overpaying but one can easily understand why they went with this option.