Welfare Eligibility Tightened to Curb "Drug Tourism"

The Facts

Mayor Daniel Lurie issued an executive directive Monday to strengthen proof-of-residency requirements for San Francisco's County Adult Assistance Program (CAAP), according to Adam Shanks at The Examiner. The program provides up to $714 monthly to low-income adults without children.

Starting in May, the city will verify residency for homeless applicants electronically through city databases, replacing the use of letters from community organizations or self-attestation. The directive also mandates that all new applicants meet with Human Services Agency staff in person, ending purely online or phone-based applications.

The Context

These changes build on Proposition F, which passed in March 2024 and requires welfare recipients with substance use disorders to engage in treatment. The CAAP program, with a $37.6 million budget, currently serves 6,600 people. While only 21% of participants are homeless, the reforms address long-standing concerns that San Francisco's generous services can act as a magnet. A recent city Point-in-Time survey found that 16% of homeless respondents came to San Francisco specifically to access services.

The GrowSF Take

Requiring electronic verification and in-person meetings creates reasonable safeguards for a system that previously relied on the honor system, while ensuring services remain for people in need. This evidence-based approach addresses valid concerns about "drug tourism" without eliminating the social safety net. By requiring actual residency verification, the city can focus its limited resources on people with genuine ties to San Francisco.

San Francisco doesn't have infinite money, and we should prioritize the people who became homeless while living here. And the state should ensure that every other California city does the same.