The San Francisco Housing Authority (SFHA) has come up with a new way to evict squatters: give them $5,000 Airbnb gift cards.
According to combined media reports, the SFHA has been trying for over a year to remove dozens of households without leases from the decrepit Potrero Annex public housing development, which has been slated for demolition in favor a new complex. But since eviction lawsuits can take months or even years to complete, the city is trying a new incentive with the $5,000 Airbnb gift cards.
The distribution of the gift cards has been erratic, with only some of the squatters receiving them. One squatter claimed SFHA attorneys sent her a letter offering the gift card but then followed up a few weeks later with an offer of $4,500 in cash.
Eviction Defense Collaborative attorney Ora Prochovnick, who refers to the squatters as “unleased residents,” insisted that some of the people living at Potrero Annex were paying rent to someone pretending to be from the SFHA; the agency did not confirm that claim.
“They were enticed to move into this property, believing it was a legitimate tenancy, believing that an agent of the housing authority was renting units to them and collecting rent for them,” she said.
Prochovnick declared the gift card offer was useless, stating, “Anybody who knows Airbnb, we’re talking about, if they’re lucky, they could get 10 nights in a unit.” However, according to Airbnb monitoring sites the average nightly cost of a San Francisco Airbnb room is $279, which would result in 17 days of housing.
The attorney also pointed out the unclear immigration status of many of those at the complex.
“We’re talking about a population that may not be English speaker,” said Prochovnick. “Some might be undocumented immigrants terrified to come forward. We’re talking about a very vulnerable population, folks who have too large of a hole in our safety net. Shelter is a basic human necessity.”
This is asinine, the place is condemned and they need to be removed. If they get injured while living there I’m sure it’ll be a huge lawsuit lead by wonderful Prochovnick. Adios, no money. End of story
Oh no, some liberal judge will award them million in damages even though they were in the property illegally.
unleased residents ? 🙂
Liberal talk.
Yes. Sort of like “Alternate Facts”.
Good luck to those abnb owners who rent to the SQUATTERS. Yeh, how long will it take to evict the squatters from the abnb. Often happens with section 8 housing – can’t get rid of tenants no matter what they do. They come to court with their taxpayer lawyers and the property owner is left holding the bag.
San Francisco always knows how to make a bad situation worse.
Staying in someone’s property without permission and without paying is no different than stealing merchandise from a store. Penalties for stealing should be incarceration. These idiot Marxist/Democrats who run California see nothing wrong with it and won’t be satisfied until private ownership of property is a thing of the past. No wonder that the middle class is fleeing the state.
The inmates are running the asylum! All 4 comments above are totally correct. This is insanity to give so much power to these squatters regardless of immigration status. Just bring in the National Guard and evict them asap. Drag them out lock, stock and barrel. I’ve always said that these sanctuary cities should have a “Poor Mans Park”. That is a designated area surrounded by 10′ of metal fencing with barbed wire on top with 1 way in and 1 way out. There should be public restrooms and showers for women and men. There should be green space with picnic areas to lounge in. The lanes should be paved with street lighting providing security and access. These amenities all around camp sites and RV sites with electricity and water. The police can patrol the area on horses, bikes or carts. There could be a guard shack at the large entry/exit. Only homeless people would be allowed in. Make it big enough to accommodate 2500(+/-) people. Either the homeless go there or go to jail or leave town permanently. No more street or road side camping in or around the cities and towns. Yes this would cost some monies but a lot less than what they are paying out right now. If one can’t afford the costs of regular living like a mature and responsible adult then this is your only alternative in that area. This would be societal generosity with a requirement of some kind of conformity. Would the area have its problems? Of course it would but it would be in a contained area. It’s worth a try to see how it works out. In the meantime the city and town streets, business districts and housing areas would be mostly free of these squatters and the homeless population.
Better yet, toss the elderly, disabled and malformed who cannot support from Mount Taygetus like they did in Sparta. That’s the mid humane thing.
Why and how did squatting become in favor to the squatter, that if they manage to gain unlawfully access to a property and squat, it automatically becomes the property owner’s obligation to go through the full legal action of eviction process to get them out and the courts defend the squatter as well as provides legal counsel for them. What ever happened to fairness in this country and why is it in favor of illegals? What the hell is wrong with our legal system?!!
I think I might be the only person in the comments that actually lives in San Francisco. Kick those people out they are living in condemned buildings. If they don’t want to leave then demolish the buildings around them. cut the power and water off. Giving them $5000 gift certificates to air BnB is the worst idea I’ve ever heard. they are just going to start squatting in those houses. if they are in the country illegally send them back to were they came from. It’s really that simple. I’m sick of my tax dollars going to these people
Yes we get alot of folks from Califoenia mainly due to lower cost of Housing to buy & rent But unfortunately by TX law we have to evict squatters. after finding this out not only were they not paying rent but stealing water & electric so that the meters where removed by electric Co & City Water Dept, then the squatters removed all the wiring, removed all overhead lights & electrical outlights sprayed walls with blac paint, took brand new appliances causing over $20,000 in repairs & replacement. But in Texas eviction process is fairly swift, 2 weeks to get court date, nonpayment of rent JP court gives them 6 days to be gone if not then Writ of Possession More money to file $200, & then when served tenants have 2 hours to get to curb with their possessions by themselves if you go back onto property can be arressted for Trespassing But it should be a law that Owner/Landlord can have them arrested for trespassing which is what these people are doing.
This is further proof that people in all levels of government in SF and all of the Left Coast are INSANE. Give the illegals to ICE and the rest go to jail for theft of govt property. There should be no free rent, food, etc from our tax dollars given to anyone except orphan children with a guardian and 100% bonafide disabled people who are tested every 6 months to reconfirm eligibility. Everyone else should WORK and pay their own way. Even disabled people can hold down a job on a computer or part time work to pay for food and partial rent!! Liberals/commies/Demonkraps need to be locked in mental institutions!!!