Unique urban environmental justice issues in Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Buildings revealed in new podcast, survey, and report
Emerging from the pandemic and 2020 wildfire season, nonprofit Brightline Defense releases a first-of-its-kind report studying climate change impacts upon tenants living in some of the nation’s densest and poorest housing conditions. As wildfire risk escalates with a deepening drought and historic heat waves in 2021, Single Room Occupancy (SRO) communities are disproportionately affected due to little access to indoor air filtration, personal protective equipment, preexisting health conditions, and crowded living conditions.
SRO buildings are low-income housing units as small as 8 by 10 feet with shared bathrooms and kitchens. To conduct extensive surveying amid the pandemic, Brightline worked with community organizers, affordable housing nonprofits, and community-based service providers. This surveying garnered extraordinary community interest with responses from 255 tenants in 54 buildings, far exceeding the original goal of 100 responses.
Increasing intensity and frequency of wildfires will disproportionately impact SRO communities. This photo was taken outside of Brightline Defense offices in South of Market Street on September 9th, 2020.
Among other findings, Brightline found that SRO residents lack access to air filtration and more than 57% of SRO tenants have chronic health problems that can be exacerbated by poor air quality. Additionally, despite strong interest in purchasing air filtration units, only 18% of residents reported being able to afford the $200 to $600 systems. Brightline’s report subsequently recommends increased state and local funding as well as programs to address the unique air quality, wildfire, physical health, and mental health risks faced by SRO communities.
New Mini-Podcast Interview with SRO Tenant Leader Reggie Reed
Timed with the release of this report, Brightline has also produced a mini-podcast episode interviewing SRO Tenant Leader, Reggie Reed. Reggie shares his lived experience in SROs, his advocacy with Central City SRO Collaborative, and persistent poor air quality in SROs. Hear more from Reggie Reed on the Brightline Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
SRO Tenant Leader Reggie Reed and Brightline Executive Director Eddie Ahn putting up air quality informational posters around the Tenderloin.