Mayor Edwin M. Lee, Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing Director Jeff Kositsky, the San Francisco Interfaith Council and Episcopal Community Services today announced the schedule and details for the Interfaith Winter Shelter Program, an initiative that provides additional shelter services at local churches. 

 

“We are always working on moving individuals off the streets and into stable living situations, and these efforts take on even greater urgency during the cold, rainy months of the winter,” said Mayor Edwin M. Lee. “We are incredibly grateful that our partners in the faith-based community are once again opening up their doors and welcoming residents who are experiencing homelessness. During these times of great need, they are literally providing shelter from the storm.”

 

Now in its 29th year, the Interfaith Winter Shelter Program began on Sunday, November 19, and will run through Saturday, February 24, 2018. The City and Episcopal Community Services (ECS) collaborate with the San Francisco Interfaith Council (SFIC) to provide additional shelter services to homeless San Franciscans during the winter months. 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 who sign up to provide the evening meals throughout the 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. Last year, more than 95 percent of the beds were occupied for the Winter Shelter Program.

 

"The November rains are a stark reminder of the need to shelter and feed those in need who find themselves at our doorsteps," said SFIC Executive Director Michael Pappas. "For nearly three decades the SFIC, in cooperation with ECS, the City, the Night Ministry, our host congregations St. Boniface Church, St. Mark's Lutheran Church, the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, the First Unitarian Universalist Society and the fifty congregations and organizations who prepare and serve meals, collectively constitute the miracle we call the Interfaith Winter Shelter Program.  Together, we offer this labor of love in emulation of the values espoused by our City's patron Saint Francis."

 

ECS is funded by the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) to provide the operational staff that that handles daily logistics in the host congregations. ECS is also responsible for managing, supervising, and engaging guests towards housing stabilization. The Winter Shelter Program increases HSH’s sheltering capacity from 5 percent to 8 percent on any given night throughout the winter, when shelter demand increases with the colder, wetter weather. 

 

“Episcopal Community Services is proud to lend our operational expertise to Interfaith Shelter again this year,” said Beth Stokes, Executive Director of ECS. “Shelter is even more crucial during these winter months when weather conditions cause tremendous hardship and exacerbate health challenges for chronically unhoused people living on the streets. For many of our guests, coming in from the cold at Interfaith Winter Shelter and engaging with staff and with services will be the first step towards accessing permanent housing – the only solution to homelessness.”

 

The regular adult emergency shelter program will operate in parallel with the Interfaith Winter Shelter Program.  Access information is available on HSH’s website, shelter reservation and resource center sites and by calling 3-1-1.

 

The Women’s Winter Shelter Program at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal 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.

 

“Each winter more of our fellow San Franciscans in need seek shelter from the cold and wet weather,” said Jeff Kositsky, Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing Director.  “Through this partnership we are able to serve more people while also providing meaningful opportunities to build greater compassion and understanding for our brothers and sisters on the streets.”

 

For more information about the Winter Shelter Program and HSH’s Emergency Shelter Programs please visit:

http://hsh.sfgov.org/services/emergencyshelter/​

 

Winter Shelter Schedule for Single Adult Men

 

St. Boniface Church 133 Golden Gate Ave November 19 – December 8 Capacity: 60	Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption 1111 Gough Street December 16 – January 13 Capacity: 100
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church 1031 Franklin Street December 9 – December 15 January 14 – February 3 Capacity: 65	First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco 1187 Franklin Street February 4 – February 24 Capacity: 70