A stillborn baby was found in a city-funded camp for the homeless.

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Last January, a stillborn baby was found at a city-sanctioned homeless camp, the San Francisco Fire Department confirmed to The Standard.

Around midnight on January 7, 2022, the fire department responded to a report that a stillborn baby had been found in the tent city’s portable bathroom, referred to as a “safe sleep area”.

Safe sleeping spaces were opened after UC Hastings sued the city for worsening street conditions early in the pandemic. The stillborn baby was found in a playground located in the rotunda in front of San Francisco City Hall.

The site closed in June 2022 after being in operation for just over two years.

The site’s operator, the nonprofit Urban Alchemy, has since moved on to open a homeless shelter in Lower Knob Hill and was recently awarded a homeless relief contract by the city. The organization has $62 million worth of contracts in San Francisco and also provides services to the homeless in half a dozen cities.

Kirkpatrick Tyler, head of government and public affairs at Urban Alchemy, said pregnant women are not housed at the site as a matter of policy, but staff were unaware of the pregnancy. The organization conducted a policy review in response to the incident, Tyler said.

“In this case, unfortunately, our staff was not informed of the pregnancy by the patient or her partner at the time of the appointment, and there were no clear signs that the woman was pregnant,” Tyler said.

“When we became aware of this situation, we quickly identified the resident and helped connect her to an ambulance. We also acted immediately to notify the proper support and authorities,” he said.

The Department of Homeless and Assisted Housing has been contacted for comment.

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