San Francisco sure is square on windows

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 6/2/9 | C.W. Nevius

[SmithL]

For the past 10 years, a homeless man has been living in the doorway of Norton's Vault on Sacramento Street. He's been there longer than Bill Dunkle has owned the bar, longer than Nick Gaffney, who has an office on the block and has been trying to find him housing, and longer than Gavin Newsom has been mayor.

"Ten years," Gaffney said. "Isn't that crazy?"

Not in San Francisco.

Matthew - he only offered his first name - is a prime example of city's often-dysfunctional homeless network. He insisted he wants to move into supportive housing.

"That's not true," sighed Lt. Mark Solomon, who heads the Police Department's Operation Outreach. "We've done more follow-up with him than anybody. We've offered him services over and over. He doesn't want any."

Solomon said as long as Dunkle gives Matthew permission to sleep in the doorway, there is nothing the city can do. Dunkle is indifferent.

"He doesn't use drugs, he cleans up, and he's not bothering me or my business," Dunkle said. "But I don't have a relationship with him. I've never given him anything."

Meanwhile, since 2007, Gaffney has contacted every city agency to get Matthew housing without success.

Here's the kicker: Recently, Gaffney and his wife were remodeling their home in the Haight and decided to add a stylish, round window.

Naturally, city officials were on that like the wrath of God. The window was not historically accurate and was prohibited. So when Gaffney heard that Matthew is allowed to live in his cardboard home because it is on private property, he got a wee bit frustrated.

"But you're regulating the hell out of my private property!" he rants.

Good point. But this is San Francisco.

[SJSAMPLE]

Solomon said as long as Dunkle gives Matthew permission to sleep in the doorway, there is nothing the city can do. Dunkle is indifferent.

"He doesn't use drugs, he cleans up, and he's not bothering me or my business," Dunkle said. "But I don't have a relationship with him. I've never given him anything."

Yes, YOU HAVE, Mr. Dunkle.
You've given him a reason to loiter and you've enabled his lifestyle.
Congratulations.

[Michael.SF.]

Matthew - he only offered his first name - is a prime example of city's often-dysfunctional homeless network

I like this wording better:

Gavin - he only offered his first name - is a prime example of city's often-dysfunctional government network

[Lockbar]

You people don't understand! Living on the sidewalk or in a doorway is historically accurate. After the 1906 earthquake alot of people were homeless and lived in the streets or in the rubble. Much more historically accurate than round windows.

[Da Coyote]

The upcoming earthquake will take care of the city’s history...along with the lib loons that inhabit it.

[The KG9 Kid]

San Francisco spends $240,000,000 per year on the ‘homeless’.

[Vaduz]

City’s often-dysfunctional homeless network,that can’t be true Obama is president and no reports on the news of homeless people. /sarc