Meet the District 2 Candidates: Should addicts who relapse be evicted from their housing?

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Welcome back to our “Meet the Candidates” series, where District 2 supervisor candidates respond to a question in 100 words or fewer. Answers are published every Tuesday.

To see what candidates said in other weeks on topics like housing and taxes, read their answers here.

District 2 covers neighborhoods in the north of the city including the Presidio, the Marina, Cow Hollow, Pacific Heights, Presidio Heights, Anza Vista, and portions of the Western Addition and North of the Panhandle.

For years, San Francisco has taken a “housing-first” approach to homelessness. That means that the city will place homeless people in permanent supportive housing even if the person is still struggling with addiction, unemployment, mental health, or physical health. 

The hope is that the stability of permanent housing sets the person up for success with their other issues, an idea that studies have mostly backed up. A “housing-first” approach decreases homelessness, ER visits and hospitalizations. The data is less clear, though, on whether it helps residents address their drug use. 

In San Francisco, residents currently cannot be evicted from any of the city’s permanent supportive housing solely because they are using drugs. 

Supervisor Matt Dorsey wants to change that. This March, Dorsey re-introduced legislation that would require new permanent supportive housing built by the city to allow evictions for illicit drug use. 

As Dorsey told The Examiner, the current “drug-tolerant” housing approach “poses some real problems for people who are in recovery or seeking to get into recovery, because we’re putting them in environments where they’re not succeeding.”

But the legislation has drawn criticism from homelessness advocates like Jennifer Friedenbach, who told The Examiner that the legislation “clearly” allows people to be evicted for relapsing. “It brings up just a lot of tenant-rights issues,” she said. 

Dorsey said that while his legislation does not make a hard and fast rule about what amount of drug use would warrant an eviction, his intention is that “a relapse is not treated as a one-and-done. People are offered services and a chance to come back.”

This week’s question: Would you vote for Dorsey’s sober housing legislation? Why or why not?

Mission Local color codes the answers to yes/no questions. A blue background means the candidate answered yes, an orange background means no, and a yellow background means that the candidate dodged the question. 

Stephen Sherrill

• Job: Appointed District 2 Supervisor
• Age: 39
• Residency: Homeowner, has lived in District 2 since 2015
• Transportation: Driving, public transportation, biking
• Education: Bachelor’s degree from Yale University
• Languages: English

I co-sponsored this legislation, because I believe our permanent supportive housing stock needs to meet the needs of all unhoused individuals, including those who are recovering from substance-use disorder.

Housing is the biggest hurdle to helping stabilize unhoused individuals, but for those suffering from addiction, the wrong housing situation can exacerbate addiction issues and lead to an individual relapsing.

We need to make it city policy to prioritize housing opportunities that support individuals on the path to sobriety free from addiction, and this ordinance will accomplish this necessary goal.

Endorsed by: Mayor Daniel Lurie, GrowSF, Nor Cal Carpenters Union, San Francisco Police Officers Association, SF YIMBY, Northern Neighbors … read more here.

Lori Brooke

• Job: President, Cow Hollow Association
• Age: 62
• Residency: Homeowner, moved to the district 31 years ago
• Transportation: Driving and walking
• Education: Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara
• Languages: English

I support the goal of making permanent supportive housing safe, stable, and recovery-oriented. Too often, these buildings struggle with open drug use and unsafe conditions, which undermine outcomes for residents and neighbors alike. 

I would consider Supervisor Matt Dorsey’s legislation if it is realistic, enforceable, and paired with access to treatment, mental health care, and strong case management. Simply declaring housing “drug-free” without support won’t work. 

We need clear expectations, accountable operators, and real pathways to recovery, moving away from a system that warehouses people toward one that prioritizes stability, safety, and long-term success.

Endorsed by: Former District 2 Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier, former State Senator and Supervisor Quentin Kopp, AFT 2121, Local 38 (#2) … read more here.

Candidates are ordered alphabetically and rotated each week. Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at io@missionlocal.com. 

You can register to vote via the sf.gov website.