Next Door
1001 Polk Street

ECS's Next Door is a model shelter, exemplified by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom as a "best practice" for our effective case management and six-month stays. Of Next Door's 280 beds, 150 beds are for men, 100 beds for women, and 30 are respite beds. Specific slots include 30 beds for homeless veterans, 25-50 for moderately to severely mentally ill participants, 25-50 for individuals on waiting lists to enter drug treatment programs, and several slots for individuals diagnosed with HIV and AIDS.

The majority of participants in Next Door's fully case-managed program are dual and multiple diagnosed individuals; virtually all participants are struggling with moderate to severe mental health, substance abuse issues and medical issues, with one issue frequently compounding another. Despite the overwhelming challenges that most clients face, nearly 40% of all case-managed clients at Next Door go from the shelter to more permanent forms of housing, including drug treatment centers.