Homelessness in San Francisco Bay Area is now so bad residents are being asked to house vagrants in their OWN HOMES: Politicians and charities claim locals want to be part of the solution
Local mayor Tom Butt, who represents the Bay Area city of Richmond, has set up a one program to match homeless people with local landlords who have empty apartments. The program, funded by private donations, will pay the landlords a year's rent up front to encourage them to forgo the usual credit, employment and background checks for tenants. 'That's the carrot,' he said, adding that they were paid the market rate. 'But we have had some landlords come forward and offer it lower, as they want to participate.'