City homelessness leaders outline 5‑year plan as Hope House readies July shift to medical respite

City and nonprofit homelessness providers presented a new five‑year strategy and performance measures Monday and described near‑term changes in shelter operations as the city and funders shift support for outreach and encampment work.

The plan’s presenters said a set of performance measures will guide accountability to move people into stable housing, while providers described existing capacity and a timetable for changes at a downtown women’s shelter.

Why it matters: The update combined systemwide metrics, funding shifts and a shelter operations change that will reduce traditional emergency beds at Hope House and add medically focused respite capacity — steps that affect where people experiencing homelessness get care, how outreach is funded and how progress will be tracked.

Empire Health Foundation program lead Zeke Smith said specialized and scattered‑site beds now total 218 across multiple sites and that the Department of Commerce‑funded emergency encampment resolution program (ERP) is expected to sunset on June 30, 2025. “We do not anticipate any additional sites opening for the remainder of our contract through June 30,” Smith said, noting the system continues to coordinate referrals and provider roles.

Nicolette Ogletree and a colleague identified as…