Mayor Lurie Expands City's Shelter Capacity To Ensure San Franciscans Can Sleep Inside During Winter Months

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today launched San Francisco’s Interfaith Winter Shelter program, a partnership with the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH), San Francisco Interfaith Council (SFIC), and Episcopal Community Services (ECS) offering shelter and services including hot meals and mobile showers to people experiencing homelessness during the winter months. This year, the shelter will rotate between five different locations, each represented by a different faith community, adding 30-80 additional beds per night at San Francisco shelters.

Under his Breaking the Cycle plan, Mayor Lurie is working to address San Francisco’s homelessness and behavioral health crisis. The mayor recently celebrated the opening of more housing and shelter in San Francisco—including 42 Otis Street, which offers permanent supportive housing for young people exiting homelessness, and Dolores Shelter and Jazzie’s Place, which adds 50 new beds for people experiencing homelessness and LGBTQ+ adults seeking shelter. Earlier this year, Mayor Lurie launched three new recovery-focused interim housing programs, and he is transforming the city’s response to the behavioral health and homelessness crisis—creating integrated neighborhood-based street outreach teams, opening a 24/7 police-friendly stabilization center, and introducing new policies to connect people to treatment. 

“This winter, as we continue our work to address the homelessness crisis, we’re expanding shelter capacity so more San Franciscans can have a warm, safe place to sleep,” said Mayor Lurie. “We’ve been working since day one of our administration to address the city’s homelessness and behavioral health crisis, because people struggling on our streets should have the chance to get better. Our work this winter moves that forward, and we’ll continue making progress every day.” 

Now in its 37th year, the program begins November 24, 2025, and will operate through March 29, 2026. It will be administered by HSH, SFIC, and ECS. As in years past, the program will accept self-referrals, enabling those in need to secure a bed and meals quickly and efficiently. 

“During this winter season, let us remember that every person deserves a warm shelter, a safe haven from the inclement weather,” said Shireen McSpadden, HSH Executive Director. “With the addition of extra shelter beds available through Interfaith Winter Shelter, we are grateful to provide not just a warm and safe place to sleep but also nourishing hot meals and access to showers for those in need. Collectively, we can create spaces where people can come in from the cold to receive compassion and care by both the city and San Francisco’s faith community.” 

The Interfaith Winter Shelter program is a seasonal, overnight-only congregate shelter operated by ECS, in partnership with SFIC and HSH. The program rotates between the Canon Kip Senior Center, Saint Mary’s Cathedral, St. Mark’s Lutheran, First Unitarian Universalist Church, and The Quaker Meeting House. Placements will be on a first come, first served self-referral basis for adults 18 years and up. 

“The moral imperative to care for our vulnerable siblings transcends confessional boundaries. For 37 years, the Interfaith Winter Shelter continues to be a powerful expression of faith in action,” said Michael G. Pappas, SFIC Executive Director. “The San Francisco Interfaith Council values its founding, coordinating, and hosting role and thanks its faith partners, in particular oversight agency Episcopal Community Services, five host sites, and over 50 religiously affiliated communities of faith and organizations that prepare and serve meals. It is because of their commitment and efforts that this communal labor of love is able to alleviate human suffering, and offer respite, sustenance and hope to up to 80 of our unhoused sisters and brothers nightly during the darkness, rain, and cold of winter.”

ECS has been providing the services for the Interfaith Winter Shelter for the last 37 years and is funded by HSH to provide services for the program. 

“ECS is honored to partner with the City, the San Francisco Interfaith Council, and local faith communities to expand shelter capacity during the harsh winter months,” said Beth Stokes, ECS Executive Director. “This collaboration reflects San Francisco’s enduring values and deep commitment to caring for our most vulnerable neighbors.” 

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