Mayor Daniel Lurie Reports homeless count drop as approval climbs in San Francisco

Mayor Daniel Lurie announced that the 2026 Point‑in‑Time count showed a 22 percent decline in unsheltered homelessness, down to 3,400 people, and a 4 percent drop in overall homelessness to 7,973. Officials said the reduction reflected increased shelter capacity, treatment centers and encampment sweeps. Critics noted that the count’s methodology changed – shifting to early‑morning hours and requiring direct interviews – which they argue could undercount people who avoid visible areas at dawn, making the figures an imperfect comparison to previous years.

A separate poll by the San Francisco Chronicle found 74 percent of residents approve of Lurie’s performance, with strong support for downtown revitalization (71 percent) and neighborhood cleanliness (67 percent). Approval on homelessness rose to 48 percent, while perceptions of crime decline. Yet the report also highlighted ongoing challenges: stagnant new housing construction, persistent drug activity in the Tenderloin, SoMa and the Mission, and overdose deaths that have plateaued. Some observers attribute Lurie’s popularity to aggressive media coverage and his ties to wealthy donors, sparking debate over the sustainability of the city’s progress.