San Francisco has added two homelessness-specific categories to its 311 reporting system, allowing residents to pinpoint an encampment or a person in distress through the city’s mobile app or call center. City administrator Carmen Chu said the feature, live since 18 June, has generated more than 10,000 requests and is aimed at directing public-health, sanitation and outreach teams more precisely. The city counts more than 8,000 unhoused people, many of whom sleep on sidewalks or in makeshift camps. Bryan Wong, the initiative’s IT project manager, said users can drop a geolocated pin and choose either “encampment” or “unhoused person” before submitting photos or comments. City officials describe the change as part of Mayor Lurie’s broader push to accelerate street clean-ups and connect people to services, while advocates such as the Coalition on Homelessness warn it risks turning the system into a complaint line rather than expanding housing stock. Elsewhere in the Bay Area, San Jose this week cleared its largest homeless encampment while offering occupants beds or housing placements. The city is working with Salvation Army Silicon Valley, which operates the 50-bed Emanuel House and plans additional capacity. Officials in both cities say combining rapid reporting tools with shelter expansion is essential to moving people indoors and reducing visible street camps.