San Francisco purchased 60 prefabricated cabins at a cost of over $100,000 each, totaling approximately $7 million in taxpayer funds, with the aim of addressing the city's homelessness crisis. However, more than a year after their acquisition, the units remain unused and have been sitting vacant in a Bayview parking lot.
This situation unfolds less than a block away from a homeless encampment, where tents and makeshift shelters line the streets. San Francisco has long struggled with a high number of individuals experiencing homelessness, despite its status as one of the wealthiest cities globally. Residents like Johnte McDowell, who is homeless, expressed a desire for the cabins, stating, "If they opened up those extra cabins, they'd fill them right up." He added, "Having my own little box sounds very appealing."
The cabins' intended use and location have faced several setbacks. Initially situated in the Mission district, they were moved to make way for a planned affordable housing project. A subsequent plan to relocate them to the SoMa area was abandoned after public backlash, leading to their current placement in Bayview.
Steve Good, CEO of the nonprofit Five Keys, indicated that city officials have not contacted him about using the cabins as alternative shelter sites, calling the situation "unfortunate" and a "lost opportunity."
Mayor Daniel Lurie, who succeeded former Mayor London Breed, has emphasized efforts to combat homelessness, citing a decrease in unsheltered individuals to a 15-year low. However, critics have questioned the methodology of the city's 2026 homelessness survey, which reported 3,400 unsheltered people, arguing the figures are not comparable to previous years.
A city spokesperson stated that operating a shelter involves more than just placing cabins, requiring infrastructure, services, staffing, funding, and community engagement. The spokesperson added that a site under consideration on 11th Street was deemed inappropriate after due diligence, but pointed to successful similar cabin programs at Jerrold Commons and 33 Gough.
Supervisor Shamann Walton, representing the Bayview area, has been critical of Mayor Lurie's approach, stating, "Against the wishes of the community and after breaking promises... Mayor Lurie opened a tiny cabin site." Kunal Modi, Lurie's senior homelessness adviser, has previously voiced concerns about a lack of coordination in addressing the issue, noting, "We spend an extraordinary amount of money, but silos keep us from reaching the needed outcomes."