San Francisco Sees 29% Surge in Vehicular Homelessness Amidst New Parking Restrictions

San Francisco is grappling with a significant increase in vehicular homelessness, with the number of lived-in vehicles on city streets rising by 29% in the past year. This surge comes as the city implements new legislation to address the growing challenge, sparking debate among residents and policymakers. The observation from a social media user, "bluoz," highlights a perceived change in the urban landscape, stating, "Yeah you do and eventually it'll be every road in SF. All tents and parked RVs and no cars."

According to city data, the number of lived-in vehicles increased from 474 in July 2024 to 612 in June 2025. This rise contrasts with a 13% decrease in the overall unsheltered homeless population, which stood at 2,912 people in January 2024, the lowest in a decade. However, the number of tents on city streets dropped from 319 to 165 during the same period, indicating a shift in how unhoused individuals are sheltering.

In response to these trends, Mayor Daniel Lurie signed new legislation in summer 2025, banning large vehicles from parking on city streets for more than two hours. This policy effectively criminalizes living in RVs on public roads. The initiative includes specialized outreach teams, a large vehicle buyback program offering cash incentives, and a Large Vehicle Refuge Permit Program for those actively engaging with services and seeking housing.

The city's Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) has an allocated budget of $846.3 million for fiscal year 2024-25, though this is projected to decrease to $677 million in 2025-26. San Francisco has reported moving 5,250 people from homelessness to housing between July 2023 and June 2024. Despite these efforts, complaints about encampments, including those involving RVs, have skyrocketed, with 311 reports expected to reach 58,000 in 2025, more than double the 2021 total.

The city also continues to advance urban planning initiatives like the "Slow Streets" program, which reduces vehicle traffic on residential roads to create safer spaces for pedestrians and cyclists. This program reflects a broader municipal strategy to reshape urban mobility and prioritize alternative transportation, potentially contributing to the sentiment of fewer cars on certain city roads. Advocates for the unhoused express concerns that strict enforcement without adequate housing solutions could worsen the crisis, pushing individuals further into precarious situations.