Reset Voter Poll Shows Overwhelming Opposition to Amending Care Not Cash Reforms
After a contentious campaign in 2002, the Care Not Cash reforms of homeless services were approved by nearly 60% of San Francisco voters.
According to an online poll of San Francisco voters taken by Reset San Francisco, these reforms are only more popular today.
Over 80% of voters responding to the online survey said they would vote NO on a measure placed on the ballot by five supervisors to amend Care Not Cash.
Mayor Ed Lee and others have said the amendments offered by supervisors would essentially gut the Care Not Cash reforms.
Success of Care Not Cash
Since Care Not Cash was first implemented in 2004, 3,054 formerly homeless clients have been provided permanent housing. A Controller’s Report issued in 2008 found the program to be meeting its goal of helping the homeless transition to permanent housing.
The five Supervisors placed their measure amending Care Not Cash on the ballot without public hearings. The Chronicle reported the last-minute maneuver could be part of a political strategy to help elect certain candidates in November. Two of the five Supervisors are running for citywide office this year.
Support Grows to Protect Care Not Cash
Numerous city officials and service providers, including Mayor Lee, were quick to defend Care Not Cash and its record of helping homeless transition off the streets.
City Assessor-Recorder and Reset San Francisco founder, Phil Ting, called the last-minute ballot measure unnecessary. “Care Not Cash is a reform that is saving lives, changing lives and showing a compassionate approach to helping the homeless transition to permanent housing. I the respect the five supervisors when they say any city program could always be better. But we don’t need to throw out the Care Not Cash plan to improve it,”
Ting said.
