SF’ First “Navigation Center” for Unhoused Youth Opens This Week
San Francisco is getting ready to open its brand new 75-bed Navigation Center for transitional age youth, ages 18-24.
The Navigation Center in Lower Polk is the first of its kind for youth experiencing homelessness in San Francisco.
In addition to shelter, it will provide medical and mental health services, workforce development support, and connection to paid career training opportunities.
Construction of the Navigation Center was completed this week and staff is preparing to receive guests beginning February 8, 2021.
“This Navigation Center will be a place where young people can seek refuge from the streets and get connected to services and job training,” said Mayor Breed. “This Navigation Center is designed to help get our young people on a better path and avoid an extended period of time on the streets.”
The new Lower Polk TAY Navigation Center, housed in a newly renovated three-story building at the corner of 700 Hyde Street and 888 Post Street, will offer a safe, healthy, and dignified environment for unhoused youth. The third floor (top floor) of the building serves as the primary sleeping area for guests and also includes an outdoor lounge area, changing rooms, all-gender shower rooms and bathrooms, laundry, clinic space, and staff offices. The second floor contains community and dining space, a pantry, and meeting rooms.
Success Centers will provide a holistic continuum of care, enabling guests to complete their education, get ready for work, and find meaningful employment.
The facility is also in full compliance with citywide shelter policies and the City’s COVID-19 protocols—which means in the short-term capacity will be reduced to 43 beds until pandemic restrictions are loosened in order to maintain the safety of guests and staff.
As the Center is not designed for open referrals or walk-ups, guest eligibility will be managed by HSH in coordination with referral sources such as the San Francisco Homeless Outreach Team (SFHOT) and Coordinated Entry. Initial outreach will focus on youth in the Lower Polk neighborhood who are in need of services.
The new Navigation Center moves SF closer to its goal to reduce youth homelessness in The City by 50% by 2023. With the Lower Polk TAY Navigation Center, the City’s full portfolio of housing and shelter resources—including COVID-19 shelter-in-place opportunities—supports more than 14,000 unhoused people each night.
Read more at the Office of the Mayor.
