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The latest news and announcements from Mayor London N. Breed

Mayor London Breed Announces Emergency Winter Shelter Schedule

In addition, the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing has opened 75 emergency shelter mats to help homeless individuals avoid current air quality

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Friday, November 16, 2018

Contact: Mayor’s Office of Communications, 415-554-6131

 

 

*** PRESS RELEASE ***
MAYOR LONDON BREED ANNOUNCES EMERGENCY WINTER SHELTER SCHEDULE

In addition, the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing has opened 75 emergency shelter mats to help homeless individuals avoid current air quality

San Francisco, CA— Mayor London N. Breed, the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH), the San Francisco Interfaith Council, and Episcopal Community Services (ECS) today announced the schedule for the Emergency Winter Shelter Program and shelter site locations. The program will run from Sunday, November 18, 2018 through Saturday, March 30, 2019.

Now in its 30th year, the City and ECS have collaborated with the San Francisco Interfaith Council to provide additional shelter services to homeless San Franciscans during the winter months.

The Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing has additionally opened 75 emergency shelter beds to provide space for homeless individuals to avoid the unhealthy air quality caused from smoke resulting from the Camp Fire. Members of the Homeless Outreach Team are conducting direct outreach to encourage unsheltered people to head indoors as well as conducting wellness checks. Additionally, they are providing masks, water, and transportation to shelter. Unsheltered individuals should go to 525 5th Street for assistance with shelter placement.

The winter months can be particularly difficult for our homeless population, which is why the Emergency Winter Shelter Program is so important,” said Mayor Breed. “I am committed to opening 1,000 new shelter beds by the end of next year because it is our responsibility as a City to make sure we have enough spaces for everyone who needs one. Additionally, with the current condition of the air in San Francisco, we are taking immediate steps to help our unsheltered population, and our Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing is working tirelessly to help move folks indoors.”

Winter Shelter Program spaces are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis each Sunday. The reservation ticket will allow the guest a seven-night stay. Two meals will be served to shelter guests each night. Those interested in a sleeping space on November 18, can go to St. Boniface Church, 133 Golden Gate Avenue, at 5:30 pm, 30 minutes prior to the opening of the Winter Shelter program to receive a ticket. These spaces are not reserved through the regular adult emergency shelter reservation system.

“What began as a call from our City to provide a one year emergency shelter, during the most inclement months of the year, today enters its thirtieth year of service,” said Michael Pappas, Executive Director of the San Francisco Interfaith Council. “Our Interfaith Winter Shelter puts into action the greatest common teaching shared by our rich diversity of faiths, to care for those in need. We are indebted to our partners in this effort, the congregations that open their doors and offer shelter, those who prepare and serve meals, Episcopal Community Services for their diligent operational oversight and the spiritual assistance of the Night Ministry. We pray for the day when shelters, like ours, won't be necessary. Until then, we are committed to do our part to help ease the suffering of some of our City's most vulnerable residents.”

ECS is funded by the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing to provide the operational staff that sets up, manages and takes down the shelter every day in the host churches. The Interfaith Council works to identify the four host churches where the overnight shelter is located and to identify the church groups, congregations and community groups that sign up to provide the evening meals throughout the program.

“The Interfaith Winter Shelter plays a crucial role in sheltering the chronically homeless through the winter months, and Episcopal Community Services is proud to continue to offer our operational expertise as the shelter enters its 30th year,” said Beth Stokes, Executive Director, Episcopal Community Services. “Engaging with guests at the Interfaith Shelter is a key first step to bringing those individuals experiencing homelessness inside, off the streets and near the critical health services they need to stabilize and move into permanent housing.”

The Winter Shelter Program increases HSH’s sheltering capacity by 5% to 8% on any given night throughout the winter, when shelter demand increases with the colder, wetter weather, not including navigation centers. The regular adult emergency shelter program will operate parallel to the Winter Shelter Program. Access information is available on HSH’s website, shelter reservation and resource center sites and by calling 311. 

The Women’s Winter Shelter Program at Bethel AME Church was converted to a year-round women’s shelter program operated by the Providence Foundation. This program has been in continuous operation since November 2014, providing 30 beds every night.

“I would like to thank the SF Interfaith Council, Episcopal Community Services and the faith community for coming together, yet again, to provide shelter and warm meals each night this winter,” said Jeff Kositsky, Director of the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. “Through this partnership we’re better able to meet the increased demand for shelter as the temperature dips and the nights get longer; in addition to the safe places provided, the program also offers each guest dignity, warm meals and connection to the City’s larger homelessness response system.”

This effort is in addition to Mayor Breed’s recently announced plan to open 1,000 shelter beds by the end of next year, the largest expansion in San Francisco in the last 30 years.

For more information about the Winter Shelter Program and HSHs Emergency Shelter Programs please visit: hsh.sfgov.org/emergencyshelter

Winter Shelter Schedule for Single Adult Men:

St. Boniface Church, capacity 60 men
133 Golden Gate Ave
November 18 through December 7

Canon Kipp Senior Center, capacity 50 men
705 Natoma Street
December 8 through December 15

Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, capacity 100 men
1111 Gough Street
December 16 through January 12

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, capacity 65 men
1031 Franklin Street
January 13 through February 2

First Unitarian Universalist Society, capacity 70 men
1187 Franklin Street
February 3 through February 23

Canon Kipp Senior Center, capacity 50 men
705 Natoma Street
February 24 through March 30

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