Astral Codex Ten Podcast What Happened To SF Homelessness?
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Dec 2, 2025 A significant drop in visible homelessness in San Francisco has sparked intriguing discussions. Recent court rulings made clearing tent encampments easier, even as many former campers remain homeless without tents. While there’s a slight decline in overall homelessness linked to falling rents, the role of local policies is questioned. Interviews reveal that improved street aesthetics come at a cost to the homeless. The complexities behind these changes challenge assumptions about intercity transfers and highlight a tricky balance between visibility and welfare.
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Encampment Clearances Drove Visibility Drop
- A large drop in visible tents followed legal changes that made clearing encampments easier.
- This mainly removed signs of homelessness rather than solving underlying housing or mental-health issues.
Legal Shifts Enabled Tougher Enforcement
- Court rulings (Sept 2023 and Grants Pass) removed prior shelter-availability limits on clearing tents.
- Police then used tent and property removal plus short jailing to push people out of visible areas.
Visibility Improved While Lives Worsened
- Enforcement incentives removed tents and possessions, encouraging homeless people to avoid public areas.
- Interviews suggest this mostly worsened lives rather than meaningfully increasing shelter uptake.