No one wants people in our city to be living in tents.

Tents are not a solution to the homelessness crisis affecting San Francisco. But at the same time, taking away someone’s only shelter is inhumane unless we give them somewhere else to go. “Take down the tents” is a good soundbite but a bad policy; it does not end homelessness for that individual, and it does not prevent that person from just ending up a few blocks away.

We can only address the problem of homelessness and encampments through the hard work of finding housing for those on the street, and health care and treatment for those who need it.

State should provide resources

That’s why my top priority is making sure the state of California declares a state of emergency around homelessness so we can unlock more state resources. Nearly 30 percent of our homeless population first became homeless outside of city limits.

This is a state and national problem and San Francisco taxpayers shouldn’t have to stand alone.

I also have introduced legislation at the Board of Supervisors to offer five-day notice to campers and neighbors living in the surrounding two blocks before the city relocates an encampment. That allows the most affected to understand why, how and when the encampment will be cleared. Those displaced must be provided with temporary shelter for 30 days and within that 30-day period, the city and individual must develop a concrete plan with steps that the individual must take in order to transition to permanent housing.

Some of my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors want a new sales tax to fund homeless services. I disagree. Making the city more expensive for struggling families will make the problem worse, not better. I support increasing the fee paid by owners of ultra-luxury properties, those valued at more than $5 million, when they sell those properties.

I also have fought successfully to make sure developers, who are making billions of dollars building new housing, invest more of those profits back into funding affordable housing.

Full-time job, but no home

We need to understand the changing nature of homelessness in San Francisco. Many homeless individuals have full-time jobs but still cannot afford housing.

We also need to maximize the effect of the funds we have now. That’s why my legislation incorporates guiding principles provided by the Obama administration’s U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, and input from our new San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. These guidelines are critical — we need to ensure taxpayer money is being in spent in accordance with the very best practices that are proven effective.

Let’s solve this crisis — not just come up with Band-Aid options. Temporary solutions will only cost us more money and resources in the long run.

When we take away tents without having enough shelter beds to offer as alternatives, what we are doing is leaving our fellow human beings on the street without any protection from the elements. We shouldn’t tolerate permanent encampments, but before we take away temporary shelter, we should be ready to offer safe, decent alternatives.

We must advocate vigorously that the state work with us on a regional if not statewide problem, implement creative solutions that work, such as the Navigation Centers, and do our job as legislators to establish best practices collaboratively with experts in the field and in our own Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing.

Jane Kim represents District Six on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.