On the evening of April 24th, a spirited and thought-provoking gathering took place on Telegraph Hill as part of North Beach Citizens’ intimate informative Salon Series. Hosted by longtime donor, advocate, and past board member Gussie Stewart, the event brought together 25 engaged neighbors to explore one of the most urgent issues facing our city: homelessness—specifically in our North Beach community.
The event served as both a deep dive and a call to action. Executive Director Kristie Fairchild led a focused conversation around the complex and growing crisis of homelessness, grounded in data from several influential reports, including CrankStart’s Streets to Stability report, and the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative report. These data driven reports reveal not only the demographics of who is experiencing homelessness in California, but also the deeper systemic drivers—such as the lack of affordable housing, underfunded support services, and a growing population of older adults without stable housing.
Kristie highlighted a sobering reality: in San Francisco, it costs the city an estimated $75,000 to $100,000 per person each year just to maintain someone in a state of homelessness—far more than the investment required to provide permanent supportive housing and services. In California more broadly, for every 100 people who qualify for affordable housing, only 24 units are available. The consequences of these structural failures are visible every day on our streets.
And yet, within these challenges, there are glimmers of hope.
Kristie shared success stories from North Beach Citizens’ clients—individuals who, through a combination of consistent support, case management, housing navigation, and access to basic needs, have moved from survival to stability. These stories underscored what happens when we shift from managing homelessness to resolving it—one person at a time.
The evening concluded with a dynamic Q&A session. Guests asked thoughtful, sometimes difficult questions—about policy, funding, and how to better align public and private efforts to truly make a difference. What emerged was a shared sense of urgency, but alsopossibility. Neighbors left with a deeper understanding of the crisis, but also a deeper connection to the solutions—and to each other.
At North Beach Citizens, we believe that ending homelessness requires more than shelter; it requires engagement. It requires community.
Your city is your impact. And evenings like this show how powerful that impact can be when we come together, informed, inspired, and ready to act.