Mayor Mark Farrell, California Assemblymember Phil Ting, and members of the Board of Supervisors today celebrated $10 million in state funding to support the City’s Navigation Centers.

The funding will help support two new Navigation Centers, to be located at 125 Bayshore Boulevard and Division Circle. On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors voted to accept and expend the $10 million in state funding for the future Navigation Centers.

“This critical funding allocation will provide us with new opportunities to build upon the successes of our Navigation Center system,” said Mayor Mark Farrell. “Like Mayor Lee and myself, Assemblymember Ting recognizes the effectiveness of our Navigation Centers. We will now have more opportunities to help people restart their lives and move into stable situations that best support their needs.” 

Assemblymember Ting secured the $10 million in Housing and Community Development funds through his role as Chair of the California Assembly Budget Committee as part of the state’s 2017-2018 budget, after Supervisor Hilary Ronen and Mayor Edwin M. Lee began discussions with him about the need for new Navigation Centers.

“Homelessness is a problem not just in San Francisco, but also throughout California,” said Assemblymember Ting. “We know offering housing alone is not enough. Navigation Centers are an essential part of the equation because they provide critical support services to help homeless individuals off the streets long-term. By opening more Navigation Centers, we will have greater success in moving people out of tents and into housing. I’m proud to lead the effort in securing $10 million in state funding to boost the City’s investment in combatting chronic homelessness."

Navigation Centers create an entry point for people living in encampments who have not been able to engage in services through traditional shelters. The centers offer intensive case management and critical service connections to healthcare, entitlement benefits and drug treatment programs.

“The Mission neighborhood is experiencing a serious a public health crisis due to the drastic increase in the number of tent encampments,” said Supervisor Ronen. “Navigation Centers work. They give homeless residents a chance at a new life, and they improve the cleanliness and safety of our streets. I will keep fighting to find out-of-the-box solutions to address street homelessness in my district and I’m so grateful to Assemblymember Ting for securing the funding and supporting me in these efforts.”

“The homelessness crisis in San Francisco demands innovative solutions from everyone in the City,” said Supervisor Malia Cohen. “The Navigation Center model offers not just a shelter, but builds wraparound resources and a path toward stability and building community. We are proud to partner with Assemblymember Ting for making this effort possible.”

“The Navigation Center model has proven to be an innovative tool in addressing our homelessness crisis in San Francisco,” said Assemblymember David Chiu.  “The state has a role to play in supporting and expanding these programs.”

Navigation Centers have a proven track record of moving people out of encampments and into stable living situations. The success of the Navigation Center system pioneered by San Francisco has made it a national model, replicated by other cities across the country.

“Navigation Centers are an important part of the City’s larger homelessness response system,” said Jeff Kositsky, director of the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing.  “These new Navigation Centers will take their place alongside our other great programs that are focused on making a sustained and significant reduction in homelessness over time while working to create better outcomes for individuals and families.”