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HSH Family Shelter System Update and Documentation
To better address the needs of families in our community, the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing has been working closely with family providers and people with lived experiences of homelessness to develop key reforms to the family homelessness response system.
Updated Definition of "Family"
As the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) reforms the Family Homelessness Response System we have received feedback from family providers about the definition of “family” within the context of HSH-funded programs. Based on this feedback, HSH is updating the definition of “family”.
The goals of this change are to:
- Provide additional clarification on defining custody requirements, and
- For families with child welfare involvement, to prioritize family shelters for families who are close to reunification.
New "Family" Definition:
- One or more adults with physical and legal custody of one or more minor children; or
- One or more adults in a household which includes a person who is pregnant; or
- One or more adults with one or more minor children not currently in their custody who are expected to reunify in less than 90 days and who have a letter from Child Protective Services stating that the only barrier to reunification is lack of shelter or housing.
For all definitions, please refer to the HSH Definitions of Homelessness.
Family Shelter Length of Stay Policy
Resource Cards
We provide printable resource cards for people experiencing homelessness in English, Chinese, Filipino, and Spanish.
- Adult & Young Adult Resource Card
- Family Resource Card