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St. Mary’s Cathedral in SF is Now a Homeless Shelter

Part of city’s 32nd Interfaith Winter Shelter Program, St. Mary’s Cathedral will house 67 homeless during the colder months
By - posted 12/1/2020 No Comment

San Francisco Announces 2020-2021 Interfaith Winter Shelter Program Opening

Monday, November 30, 2020
The Interfaith Winter Shelter Program opened today, November 30, increasing shelter capacity for people experiencing homelessness during the winter season

Mayor London N. Breed, the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH), the San Francisco Interfaith Council (SFIC), and Episcopal Community Services (ECS) today announced the opening of the Interfaith Winter Shelter Program. Now in its 32nd year, the Interfaith Winter Shelter Program opened, Monday, November 30, 2020, increasing shelter capacity for people experiencing homelessness during the winter season.

2020-21 Interfaith Winter Shelter Program

 

Location

  • St. Mary’s Cathedral, Patrons Hall, 1111 Gough St., San Francisco

Dates

  • November 30, 2020 – January 31, 2021

Hours

  • The Interfaith Winter Shelter program is an overnight program only.
  • Guests may arrive between 5:30pm-8:30pm and must depart by 7:00am the following morning.

Bed Capacity

  • 67 all-gender beds
  • Bed capacity was determined following SFDPH congregate shelter guidance of 6-foot spacing.
  • Guests will have access to standard cots, mattresses, pillows, and heavy-duty blankets for sleeping. All bedding will be consistently laundered to ensure guests have access to clean

See more details on hygenie, storage, length of stay, parking and COVID prevention

The Interfaith Winter Shelter Program will serve 67 individuals experiencing homelessness at St. Mary’s Cathedral beginning November 30, 2020 – January 31, 2021. At present, the end date of the program is January 31, 2021 as the site’s availability is contingent upon the status of the pandemic. HSH and Interfaith Winter Shelter Program Partners will continue to closely monitor the landscape of the pandemic while exploring other options to support winter shelter resources being available through the winter months. The program will provide guests with two hot meals and takeaway lunches and mobile showers will be provided.

The Interfaith Winter Shelter Program will adhere to COVID-19 public health guidance for congregate-style shelters that includes but is not limited to:

  • Physical distancing of ideally 6 feet between individuals during sleep and while moving throughout the designated areas of shelter space.
  • Face coverings will be provided and are required to be worn by guests and staff.
  • Enhanced cleaning processes.
  • Access to handwashing and sanitation stations.
  • Minimizing the introduction of new risk by maintaining a stable cohort whenever possible.
  • Based on the DPH environmental health assessment, new enhanced filters (MERV 13) will be installed in the HVAC and settings to the system will be adjusted to maximize air filtration.
  • Enhanced food safety practices.
  • ECS has been providing the services for the Interfaith Winter Shelter for the last 32 years and is funded by HSH to provide services at the 2020-2021 Interfaith Winter Shelter Program.

Based on COVID-19 public health guidance for congregate-style shelters, the 2020-2021 Interfaith Winter Shelter Program will not accept walk-ins. All referrals to the Interfaith Winter Shelter Program will be made through the centralized referral process managed by the COVID‑19 Command Center.

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For more information about the 2020-2021 Interfaith Winter Shelter Program, please visit: hsh.sfgov.org/services/shelter/emergencyshelter