San Francisco has an unrecognized opportunity to cost‐effectively shelter thousands of its homeless residents. The city’s massive Salesforce Transit Center has two unused subterranean levels that could provide over 400,000 square feet of shelter space. Assuming 100 square feet of space per occupant (well above state building code requirements), this facility should be able to accommodate 4,000 individuals. Since the city’s most recent point‐in‐time count identified 4,397 unsheltered homeless people, utilizing this space for shelter would make a tremendous difference.
When the transit center was built in the 2010s, the two lower levels were included to accommodate future commuter and intercity train service. But before this space can be used as a train station, a rail extension must be completed linking the facility to the present Caltrain terminal 1.3 miles away.
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