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City moves shelter residents into hotels as Department of Homeless Services pursues density reduction plan
Summary
The Department of Homeless Services said it has moved people, prioritizing seniors, into commercial hotels to reduce shelter density and is tracking COVID-19 cases across shelter and street populations.
Leilani, a Department of Homeless Services official, said the agency has begun moving single adults from congregate shelters into commercial hotels to reduce population density and limit COVID-19 spread.
The move is part of a citywide density‑reduction plan that began by prioritizing people aged 70 and older. The agency said it has been tracking 920 positive COVID‑19 cases linked to its clients and outreach work, including 770 cases among sheltered individuals and 46 among people living outdoors; officials also reported 75 deaths among clients.
The plan to use commercial hotels temporarily was presented as a practical step to “cut the population in half” at single‑adult shelters, reduce on‑site crowding and create space for isolation or quarantine when needed. The agency said street‑outreach teams have made more than 23,000 engagements citywide and are providing PPE and referrals to care when they encounter symptomatic people.
Leilani said street outreach includes work throughout the day and an expanded late‑night effort that has shown higher engagement rates with people riding end‑of‑line trains. The agency also said it has expanded safe‑haven beds and that staff distribute masks, gloves and sanitizer during encounters.
The official urged residents and agencies to use 311 to report individuals who appear to be experiencing homelessness so outreach teams can respond. The Department of Homeless Services also holds weekly conference calls with partners and elected officials to coordinate shifting operations.
Community board members and agency staff asked about hotels used for temporary housing and about how outreach and testing are being coordinated; Leilani said weekly briefings provide more detailed operational updates and encouraged board members to join them.
Ending: The department said its priority remains reducing shelter density and connecting people to care; officials said they will continue to report updates on hotel placements, outreach and case counts through their weekly calls and via established city reporting channels.
