Mayor Edwin M. Lee today highlighted milestones in the City’s new first-of-its-kind Navigation Center pilot program including helping 200 homeless residents access housing and services in five months. Mayor Lee also announced a new $3 million re-allocation of City funds to expand the Navigation Center model, and challenged the private sector to match the City’s commitment at least dollar-for-dollar. Mayor Lee will introduce 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.

“Our City’s Navigation Center has already helped 200 homeless San Franciscans in just the past five months by removing barriers that prevent people from reaching out and accepting the services they need,” said Mayor Lee. “We know that living on our streets is both unhealthy and dangerous and that’s why we are redoubling our efforts with this new approach combined with our nationally recognized programs and working together with the Board of Supervisors and partners like the Interfaith Council to give people a true exit from homelessness. We are also challenging our private sector to create more Navigation Centers to help more people with the goal of ending homelessness here in the City of Saint Francis.”

As of this week, 200 people have been moved off the streets and through the Navigation Center. Of these 200 formerly homeless, 60 have moved to supportive housing, 34 have gone through Homeward Bound, six are in shelter, 71 are currently in the process of getting housing at the Navigation Center and 29 are currently receiving intensive case-management towards housing.

The Navigation Center program is showing that street homeless residents are resolving their homelessness. With this success, Mayor Lee is re-allocating $3 million in current-year funds to expand the Navigation Center model and serve twice as many clients, and challenging the private sector to match with an additional $3 million at least dollar-for-dollar. Mayor Lee will introduce legislation to the Board of Supervisors to create a first-ever “Navigation Partnership Fund” to receive private and philanthropic donations and that only appropriates the money once the City spends its share of the match similar to the Mayor’s Fund for the Homeless, creating accountability for the donors.

The Navigation Center located in the Mission District opened in March to provide comprehensive services and programs for the adult homeless population. The Navigation Center helps homeless people, many living in encampments, who have stayed out of shelters because they do not want to be separated from a partner, friends, or even their dog, to find permanent housing. Clients are expected to have a brief stay before moving on to housing or residential treatment. It is comprised of single-story buildings with dormitory-style living quarters, shower and bathroom facilities, laundry facilities, counseling offices, and a 24-hour dining room.

The Navigation Center is the City’s pioneering approach to help homeless people reconnect with loved ones at home, move off the streets and into stable housing or residential treatment programs and get access to the services they need to stabilize their lives. At the current Navigation Center up to75 people are assisted at a time, and three services coordinators are on the grounds at all times. The Center connects people with social services and long-term housing or, if the individuals wish, helps them access Homeward Bound, a City program that reconnects them with loved ones or friends. Episcopal Community Services and Mission Neighborhood Resource Center (MNRC) with the Human Services Agency, Health Department and Project Homeless Connect are providing services at the Navigation Center.

The pilot location at 1950 Mission Street is anticipated to last eight to 18 months. The City budget already commits $3 million over two years to the continuation of the Navigation Center pilot program, which includes cost of moving to new location.

The Navigation Center was initially supported with a $3 million donation from the San Francisco Interfaith Council, which funds the first year of the Navigation Center pilot, providing 24/7 counselors to intake new clients, provide meals and safe shelter, and connect homeless people with critical social services. As part of the donation, $1 million is funding the master leasing of SRO units around the City for homeless clients who transition out of the Navigation Center.