Mayor Lurie Expands Interim Housing Capacity with Opening of Jerrold Commons Phase One in the Bayview

SAN FRANCISCO – Today, Mayor Daniel Lurie announced the opening of phase one of Jerrold Commons, a temporary shelter for older adults struggling with homelessness. This innovative program aims to provide essential support, with a first-time focus on the older population. Phase one includes 68 new shelter beds, spread across 60 cabins. Eight of these cabins will be dedicated to people currently living in RVs near the site.

The opening represents an important step in Mayor Lurie’s “Breaking the Cycle” plan to tackle the city’s enduring homelessness and behavioral health crisis. As part of that plan, the city is working to add 1,500 interim housing beds — creating capacity in the system and building shelter that meets the range of needs of people experiencing homelessness to help get them off the street.

“Every bed that we add is an opportunity for someone who slept on the street last night to sleep inside tonight. Jerrold Commons phase one will offer that opportunity to dozens of seniors,” said Mayor Lurie. “Our administration has set an ambitious goal to add interim housing capacity with the kinds of services that people experiencing homelessness need so they can find long-term stability. City departments have worked closely with our partners in the community for nearly two years, and we will continue to do that to improve our city for everyone who lives here.”

With the opening of Jerrold Commons phase one, the city continues its work to diversify shelter options, with a focus on older adults struggling with homelessness. Jerrold Commons will alleviate street homelessness in the Bayview and beyond with both dignity and compassionate care services for people looking for a pathway out of homelessness.

Various city departments will collaborate closely on the operation of services at this new project. The Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH), the Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS), and the Department of Public Health will work with Homebridge, an In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) provider, to offer comprehensive support and caregiving service to meet the needs of older adults staying in the cabins. They will also assess other supportive social services needed to effectively move shelter guests experiencing homelessness into stability.

The facility is designed to ensure a respectful environment where individuals can work toward self-sufficiency. This will include a wide range of services designed to support residents’ immediate needs and long-term stability. Key features include:

• 24/7 WEHope Staffing: Ensuring safety and support at all hours
• Onsite Services: Case management and physical and behavioral homecare services
• Security Measures: Three dedicated and secure entrances
• Food and Nutrition: Two meals per day
• Hygiene: Restrooms, showers, laundry services, and sinks to promote personal care
• Community Support: Communal space, storage, bike racks, and pet relief area
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi access to help residents stay connected with resources and loved ones

“Jerrold Commons stands as a testament to San Francisco’s commitment to addressing homelessness with compassion and effectiveness in a secure and dignified environment,” said Shireen McSpadden, Executive Director of the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. “This new facility, focused on older adults, not only expands our shelter capacity but also embodies our dedication to an approach that recognizes and prioritizes older adult needs as we strive to fulfill our mission to make homelessness rare, brief and one-time.”

“This opportunity and partnership represents a groundbreaking step forward in our mission to serve our unhoused neighbors with dignity and compassion,” said Pastor Paul Bains, Founder and President of WeHOPE. “With an initial 60 cabins, this unique site will serve as a community where hope can take root and lives can be transformed. I'm excited to see how this space will become a launching pad for individuals to rebuild their lives and move toward permanent housing.”

Historically, older adults and people with disabilities in shelter placements encounter particular difficulties and barriers that limit their ability to move through the shelter system and into stability. These include areas of non-medical personal care (e.g., bathing, dressing, feeding, and grooming) and paramedical services (e.g., medication assistance, injections, and bowel/bladder care). Through the partnership between HSH and DAS, caregivers onsite will be able to provide the necessary support to meet the needs of older adults staying at Jerrold Commons.

The IHSS program, along with Homebridge, will also play an essential role in this shelter by dispatching trained culturally and linguistically appropriate home care providers. IHSS social workers will be enrolling guests into the IHSS program. In addition, clients will be evaluated and rolled into other supportive social services and a case manager will help them with the care navigation.

“We are so excited to have a shelter dedicated specifically to the unique needs of older adults who comprise a disproportional number of people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco,” said Kelly Dearman, Executive Director of the Department of Disability and Aging Services. “We are particularly proud to work with HSH at shelter sites to enroll older adults experiencing homelessness into our IHSS program. By meeting clients where they are, we will help more of our community’s older adults receive IHSS and other supportive services that can be critical to restoring their health and well-being.”

“When we couple new shelter sites with enhanced health services, we know we will have better outcomes for people we serve,” said Dan Tsai, Director of the Department of Public Health. “Providing dedicated health services onsite will not only ensure Jerrold Commons residents receive the necessary physical, mental health care, or substance use services they need, but also establish more effective connections to care that will provide them a stronger pathway to health and stability.”