Committee forwards resolution to extend operations at two navigation centers amid operator praise and oversight concerns

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Land Use Committee on June 4 forwarded a resolution to the full Board authorizing continued operation of two navigation centers while planned replacement projects experience construction delays.

Supervisor Jane Kim, a sponsor of the resolution, told the committee construction timelines on replacement housing had slipped and the extensions are intended to preserve shelter capacity: "We are just, temporarily extending 1950 Mission until September thirtieth of this year and continue the operation of our Civic Center navigation center through December 31, 2021," she said.

Emily Cohen from the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Services described the sites: the 1950 Mission Street Navigation Center opened in March 2015 and has 75 beds; the Civic Center Hotel site is a former SRO with 93 rooms being used as a navigation center. Replacement sites in development include a Bayshore Navigation Center (128 beds), the Quinn Navigation Center (125 beds) and a SoMa Navigation Center (86 beds). Cohen said the extensions will allow guests at existing centers to transition to replacement sites as they open.

Service providers and navigation‑center residents spoke in strong support at the committee hearing. Anat Leonard Wookie of Community Housing Partnership said the Civic Center navigation center has provided safe respite since 2016 and cited program outcomes: "We've ensured that 153 formerly homeless adults are now in safe and permanent housing. That's 58% of our total exits," she said. Dennis McCray, director of shelters for Episcopal Community Services — which operates the 1950 Mission site — described daily outreach and property‑management efforts and said the operator maintains a close relationship with the San Francisco Police Department to keep the area clear.

Several residents and program participants told supervisors the centers helped them secure housing and stability. Joseph Livingston, who identified himself as a navigation‑center resident, described receiving help finding housing and urged officials not to close the centers.

At least one commenter voiced opposition, alleging inadequate contract oversight and saying that a named contractor (Jeff Kosinski) and his organization had blocked shelter monitoring committee inspections and failed to comply with grievance and contract requirements. The committee transcript does not include a response to those allegations.

With no further committee discussion, the committee moved to forward the resolution as a positive committee report to the full Board; the motion carried without objection. The resolution will appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda for June 12.