The 2018 Good Government Awards, held on March 21, recognized outstanding job performance of those serving the City and County of San Francisco.
The Encampment Resolution Team — including Tom Carter, Paul De Freitas and Scott Walton of the Port of San Francisco, San Francisco Public Works, and the Department of Homelessness & Supportive Housing — were honored for creating the Waterfront Navigation Center.
In 2016, the Central Waterfront was experiencing a crisis: The number of homeless encampments in parks and open spaces was increasing, yet the nearby Pier 80 winter shelter was scheduled to close. Collaborating with neighborhood organizations, leaders from three city agencies worked together to turn an unsafe, inhumane situation into an innovative, safe and positive solution with community support.
In a record 13 months, the Encampment Resolution Team designed and built the Waterfront Navigation Center in Dogpatch to offer a one-stop resource for people experiencing homelessness. The center aims to transition residents to long-term supportive housing while also minimizing impacts on any one neighborhood. It has become a model for cities such as Seattle and Berkeley.
2018 Good Government Awards: Encampment Resolution Team from SPUR on Vimeo.
2018 winners also include:
Sonali Bose Oversees Billions to Help SFMTA Innovate
Kelly Cornell Helped Create a Long-Term Plan for SF's Urban Forests
The Dahlia Housing Portal Transformed How San Franciscans Find Affordable Housing