Homelessness Drops 22%, Parklets Mature Beyond Pandemic Origins

The San Francisco Public Works Commission met May 14 for a compact but data-rich session, headlined by sharp declines in street homelessness and a detailed look at how the city's pandemic-born parklet program is evolving under competitive pressure from free sidewalk seating. Three commissioners were present; Commissioner Paul Woolford had a planned absence.

• Unsheltered homelessness falls 22% with 1,000 fewer people on the streets and an 85% drop in tents, per the 2025 Point-in-Time Count

• 400 parklets now fully compliant citywide, but demand is shifting as Mayor Lurie's free sidewalk seating program draws businesses away

• Public Works to host 33 volunteer greening events across all 11 supervisorial districts for SF's 250th anniversary on July 11

• Terry Francois Boulevard bike and pedestrian safety corridor completed with concrete-barrier-protected lanes

• Consent calendar approved 3-0, including three as-needed engineering and environmental services contracts

Unsheltered Homelessness Down 22%, but Questions Remain

Deputy Director Bruce Robertson, filling in for the director, shared preliminary findings from the 2025 Point-in-Time Count conducted Jan. 29. The numbers are the most encouraging the city has seen in years: 1,000 fewer people living unsheltered, a 22% decline, and an 85% reduction in tents compared to the 2024 count. Overall homelessness dropped 4%.

Why it matters: The data validates San Francisco's multi-agency strategy — pairing enforcement with services — and gives Public Works a tangible benchmark for its street-clearing and shelter-delivery operations. The department works alongside the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH), the Department of Public Health, and the Human Services Agency (HSA) to keep rights-of-way clear while service providers connect people to housing and treatment.

Where things stand: Robertson positioned Public Works as both a field partner and a builder, noting the department's construction management and design teams have helped deliver shelters and service centers across the city. But the headline number prompted an immediate follow-up from Chair Fady Zoubi, who wanted to know what happened to the 1,000 people no longer on the streets.

"So we saw 1,000 less. Do we have any data about these thousand? Where did they end up? Did they end up in one of our programs? Did they move on? Did they leave?" asked Chair Zoubi.

Robertson acknowledged that the granular data wasn't immediately available but committed to obtaining it from HSH, Public Health, and HSA for a future commission meeting.

What's next: Commissioners will receive a follow-up report with destination data — whether the 1,000 people entered shelter, permanent housing, treatment, or left the city — at a future meeting. That information will be critical for understanding whether the decline reflects successful interventions or displacement.

Parklets at a Crossroads: 400 Compliant, but Free Seating Looms

The meeting's most detailed discussion centered on the Shared Spaces parklet program, which Commercial Permits Program Lead Kelly Albers walked commissioners through in a comprehensive overview spanning the program's pandemic origins to its current policy crossroads.

The basics: Parklets are sidewalk- or parking-lane structures that extend a business's outdoor seating or public gathering space into the street. San Francisco had roughly 50 public parklets before the pandemic. When COVID-era capacity restrictions hit — limiting indoor dining to 25% — applications exploded past 2,000. The program has since stabilized at 400 fully compliant permitted parklets, with 67 more in the installation pipeline and 40 under interagency review.

"Today, we actually just reached 400 permitted parklets that have been verified to be fully compliant with the legislative program requirements," said Albers. Districts 2, 3, 5, 8, and 9 have the highest concentrations.

Why it matters: The parklet program was a lifeline for small businesses during COVID. Chair Zoubi recalled the early days vividly: "They were supposed to open at 25% capacity in North Beach. 25% capacity could be like a chair and a half or a table. And that was the whole idea of getting more real estate to make more sense for the restaurants and small businesses. It was like a lifesaver."

But the program now faces an existential tension. Mayor Lurie's Permit SF initiative made sidewalk seating free through a simple registration process, and that's pulling demand away from fee-based parklets.

"I think it's dwindled a bit considering now that fees are being charged for these permits. A lot of businesses don't really see the value in spending a lot of money on installing these parklets," Albers said. She noted that fixed commercial parklets cost approximately $1,000 per parking space annually, while public parklets run about $300. A 50% fee waiver is available for businesses grossing under $2.5 million.

The other side: Parklets remain essential where narrow sidewalks make free sidewalk seating impossible — path-of-travel clearance requirements under ADA and city standards simply don't leave enough room. The permitting process involves SFMTA determining the footprint and Public Works reviewing site plans for compliance with daylighting, accessibility, fire safety, drainage, and utility clearances. Construction gets a 60-day window, followed by inspection.

Commissioner Eleanor Blume offered a ground-level view from her District 4 neighborhood: "I've seen the parklets go in and actually be instantly full of people. Anecdotally, I witness them being a very useful part of a hyperlocal economy out in my neighborhood."

Commissioner Gerald Turner used the discussion to make a broader pitch about the department's value heading into budget season. "This is why Public Works matters. This is why we're essential to the city. This is why every position needs to be filled," he said, urging continued advocacy for full staffing. Turner framed the parklet program alongside street vending and flower pop-ups as evidence that Public Works is the backbone of San Francisco's community spaces.

What's next: No action was taken — this was an informational presentation. But the policy question is now squarely in front of commissioners: how does a fee-based parklet program coexist long-term with a free sidewalk seating alternative? The answer will likely shape fee structures, program design, and small business decisions across the city.

SF's 250th: 33 Volunteer Events Across Every District

Deputy Director Robertson reported that Public Works is serving as the operational engine behind the July 11 One City Day of Service, organized by First Lady Becca Prouda to celebrate San Francisco's 250th anniversary.

"Public Works is a full throttle partner, laser focused to make this event successful. We're hosting 33 greening and cleaning events throughout the city, three in each supervisorial district, where we'll be working with volunteers to plant trees, abate graffiti, pick up litter," Robertson said.

The department is also supplying equipment — pickers, trash bags, green waste bags — for community-sponsored volunteer events beyond its own 33 sites. Robertson emphasized the goal extends past a single day, aiming to seed ongoing neighborhood beautification and broader volunteerism including food bank work and literacy programs.

Terry Francois Boulevard Safety Corridor Complete

Public Works celebrated the May 7 ribbon cutting for the Terry Francois Boulevard Bike and Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project, a multi-agency effort with the Port of San Francisco, SFMTA, and the San Francisco Giants. The project created a safer corridor from China Basin Park through Mission Rock Street.

"We joined the mayor, representatives of the Port of San Francisco, the SFMTA, and the San Francisco Giants to celebrate the completion of the Terry Francois Boulevard Bike and Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project," said Deputy Director Robertson.

Upgrades include concrete barriers protecting bike lanes, clearly defined roadway striping, upgraded signage for all travel modes, and accessibility improvements. Public Works provided all engineering support and repaved the corridor. Robertson noted the area sees significantly more traffic than it did one to two decades ago, making the safety upgrades critical for the growing Mission Rock and ballpark-area population.

Minor Items

• Consent calendar approved 3-0 (voice vote; Commissioner Woolford absent). Includes April 30 meeting minutes and three as-needed contract modifications for environmental planning, mechanical engineering, and structural engineering services.

• Permit portal praised. Deputy Director Robertson reported the city's new permit portal has been "very successful," with further integration planned in subsequent phases to allow applications from home, after hours, and on weekends.

• Budget timeline. The mayor's budget will be released June 1, go through Board review and approval in June and July, and be signed in late July or early August. Public Works plans to report to the commission on the finalized budget in August.

• Commissioner Blume requested a future update on the Gary Boulevard Improvement Project and asked about cost increases associated with four delegated contract extensions noted in the staff report.

• Chair Zoubi acknowledged Asian American Heritage Month during announcements.

• The next Public Works Commission meeting is scheduled for May 28.