The 64-square-foot cabins are produced by LifeMoves, a Silicon Valley-based company responsible for the installation of a similar development in nearby Mountain View in 2016. Neighboring Oakland has operated its own cabin site since 2017, albeit with mixed results for residents who have found themselves back on the streets long-term. 

San Francisco’s move comes a bit late, however, as COVID-related fears have deemed the crowded shelter system a non-starter for many. Other cities like Los Angeles have invested in the tiny homes movement, which is being seen as a popular solution to a crisis at a time when encampments sanctioned by municipal governments are popping up increasingly throughout the state. More than 40% of America’s homeless population lives in California alone.

The new approach certainly constitutes a change from San Francisco’s previous initiatives like the Homeward Bound program, which was created by then-Mayor Gavin Newsom to offer people experiencing homelessness a one-way ticket out of the city as part of a policy that critics decried as dismissive and unsuccessful.

“I believe when you give someone that kind of dignity you can get with your own room and a locking door, you’re keying them up for more success,” DignityMoves founder Elizabeth Funk told the Chronicle.

70 cabins are reported to cost as much to operate as about 44 tents, according to officials. The city has yet to announce its plans for the 33 Gough Street site after the 18-month lease period ends. Detailed information on the cabins can be found here.