News Releases
The latest news and announcements from Mayor London N. Breed

Mayor Lee, Human Services Agency & San Francisco Interfaith Council Announce Emergency Winter Shelter Schedule

Winter Shelters in Conjunction with Increased Investments, Services & Expansion of Supportive Housing will Provide Essential Support for San Francisco’s Homeless Population During Expected Cold, Wet W

Mayor Edwin M. Lee, the San Francisco Human Services Agency (HSA) and the San Francisco Interfaith Council announced the schedule for the Emergency Winter Shelter Program and shelter site locations. The City is also currently planning for a significant shelter bed expansion in advance of the anticipated El Nino storms in order to ensure everyone in need of shelter receives it during the expected cold, wet winter storms.

“San Francisco is a compassionate City with nationally recognized programs that provide housing, shelter and innovative supportive services to our most in need and homeless population,” said Mayor Lee. “I thank Episcopal Community Services, San Francisco Interfaith Council, who in partnership with the Human Services Agency, will ensure those on our streets have refuge from the cold and wet weather expected this winter season.”

“We join our partners Episcopal Community Services and the Human Services Agency in thanking the Night Ministry, our host congregations, St. Boniface Church, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption and the First Unitarian Universalist Society of SF, along with the forty congregations who prepare and serve meals, for doing their part, during this cold and rainy season, to provide for the essential needs of our City’s most vulnerable residents,” said Michael Pappas, Executive Director of the San Francisco Interfaith Council.

The 2015-2016 Winter Shelter Program is scheduled to begin this Sunday, November 22, 2015 and will operate through Saturday, February 27, 2016.  Two meals will be provided each day for shelter guests. The first location to host additional winter shelter beds for single men is St. Boniface Church located at 133 Golden Gate Avenue.  

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.  Those interested in a sleeping space on November 22, can go to St. Boniface Church no earlier than 30 minutes prior to start time to receive a ticket.  Please note these spaces are not reserved through the regular adult emergency shelter reservation system, CHANGES.

As part of this year’s budget, the Mayor has allocated nearly $40 million to fund programs for the City’s homeless population which includes a women’s winter shelter to operate year-round for the next two years. Also included in the increased funding is the addition of 500 new units of supportive housing for homeless San Franciscans.  This expansion is in conjunction with significant investments to increase staff at existing supportive housing sites and provide the needed services for San Francisco’s homeless population.  The City’s first-of-its-kind Navigation Center continues to provide housing and services with a new $3 million re-allocation of City funds to expand the model, and Mayor Lee has challenged the private sector to match the City’s commitment at least dollar-for-dollar. Mayor Lee introduced legislation to the Board of Supervisors to create a Navigation Partnerships Fund to receive philanthropic contributions earmarked for Navigation services, funding which must be matched by the City before it can be spent.

For the past 27 years, HSA and Episcopal Community Services have collaborated with the San Francisco Interfaith Council to provide additional shelter services to the homeless in San Francisco.  

Winter Shelter Schedule for Single, Male Adults:
St. Boniface Church located at 133 Golden Gate Avenue and Leavenworth Street will be open from Sunday, November 22, 2015 through Friday, December 11, 2015.

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church located at 1031 Franklin Street and O’Farrell Street will be open from Saturday, December 12, 2015 through Tuesday, December 15, 2015 and will reopen next year on Sunday, January 17, 2016 through Saturday, February 6, 2016.

Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption located at 1111 Gough Street and Geary Street will be open from Wednesday, December 16, 2015 through Saturday, January 16, 2016

First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco located at 1187 Franklin Street and Geary Street will be open from Sunday, February 7, 2016 through Saturday, February 27, 2016.