Mayor Lurie Reforms Journey Home Program to Help People Reconnect with Loved Ones and Access Support

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today announced an improved and expanded Journey Home program—the city’s reunification and relocation program that will give homeless people in San Francisco an option to relocate out of the city to reconnect with loved ones. The expanded program will offer 24/7 relocation assistance to meet the needs of those ready to go home at any time, bringing together longstanding efforts under a single, citywide system under the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH). 

The transformation of San Francisco’s relocation and reunification program continues Mayor Lurie’s work to fundamentally reshape the city’s response to the behavioral health and homelessness crisis. Since the start of his administration, Mayor Lurie’s team has opened 600 new beds largely focused on treatment and recovery, and encampments across the city have reached new lows. Under his Breaking the Cycle plan, the mayor has advanced plans to get drug users off San Francisco streets with a new Rapid Enforcement, Support, Evaluation, and Triage (RESET) Center and opened a 24/7 police-friendly crisis stabilization center at 822 Geary Street, which has shown more success at connecting people in crisis to care. Mayor Lurie has also launched three new recovery-focused interim housing programs and is transforming the city’s response to the crisis—creating integrated neighborhood-based street outreach teams and introducing new policies to end the distribution of smoking supplies without connection to treatment. 

“In San Francisco, we are changing our approach to the homelessness and behavioral health crisis by moving people from the streets toward real stability,” said Mayor Lurie. “For too long, reunification efforts were fragmented and didn't provide people with real paths home. Our Journey Home program brings everything together into one citywide, 24/7 system that gives people a safe, voluntary, and supportive path to reconnect with loved ones or a stable destination. This is about meeting people where they are, when they’re ready—and helping them take the next step home.”  

The Journey Home program provides 24/7 relocation support to anyone who wants to reconnect with loved ones and a stable destination outside San Francisco. HSH and Glide work together to help with travel planning, coordination, and follow-up, ensuring each participant’s journey is safe, voluntary, and supported every step of the way.  The new program brings together previous efforts, including Homeward Bound and Problem Solving, under a single citywide system. 

Glide’s trained team will assess medical, mental-health, and mobility needs, help with medication and pet travel logistics, and ensure that travel plans meet any ADA or dietary requirements. Participants will receive assistance obtaining identification or travel documents and coordinating with destination contacts, including being accompanied to the departure site to make sure they get safely on their way.  

GLIDE will provide retention support for up to 90 days after relocation—checking in to confirm that participants remain connected to housing, services, or their support network. 

The 24/7 program with GLIDE launched this week and will be fully operational in February, helping to move those struggling towards stability and safely connect people experiencing homelessness with the family, friends, and places where they have the best chance of succeeding. 

"San Francisco has done good work to move tens of thousands of people off our streets and into permanent housing solutions. But over and over we hear that the ‘inflow’ is limiting the impact of these wins.  It’s critically important that we find solutions that address that challenge,” said Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman. "Journey Home is one such solution, and I am hopeful that it will be a useful addition to the city’s homelessness response toolbox."

“By facilitating these critical connections, we aim to provide a vital support network that fosters stability and offers a pathway out of homelessness,” said Shireen McSpadden, HSH Executive Director. “The Journey Home program embodies our commitment to not only address immediate housing needs, but also to strengthen the family and social ties that are essential for long-term success.”  

“We are thrilled to partner with the Mayor’s Office and HSH to launch the new Journey Home program at GLIDE,” said Dr. Gina Fromer, GLIDE President and CEO. “Every day, GLIDE provides a comprehensive suite of integrated services to ensure that people experiencing homelessness receive the food, clothing, street medicine, and case management they need. Journey Home adds an important, outcomes-driven tool to this work—one that goes beyond providing a bus ticket to ensuring people reuniting with loved ones are truly set up for success in their new home.”