For more than 40 years, Hamilton Families has helped families move beyond homelessness. Our 2026–2028 Strategic Plan builds on that legacy with a bold new commitment: addressing the poverty and inequities that make families vulnerable to homelessness in the first place.
For decades, Hamilton Families has helped families find shelter, secure permanent housing, and rebuild their lives. But our experience—and the data—have made one thing increasingly clear: family homelessness is not just a housing issue.
It is closely connected to poverty, racial inequity, displacement, and unequal access to opportunity.
If we are serious about ending family homelessness for good, we must address those root causes too.
The Strategic Plan itself distills the long-term solution as keeping Black and Brown families housed in San Francisco while getting Black and Brown children out of poverty.
From housing stability to long-term opportunity.
We are building an anti-poverty approach to ending family homelessness—combining our existing housing programs with strategies that support economic mobility, stronger outcomes for children, and generational change.
Build the resources to sustain bold solutions.
We are diversifying revenue, strengthening government partnerships, and growing flexible private funding so Hamilton Families can innovate, respond to emerging needs, and invest for the long term.
Invest in the people who power our mission.
We are strengthening compensation, professional development, leadership, organizational culture, and internal systems so our staff have the support they need to deliver exceptional services.
These are the plan's three core priorities: transforming services, building financial resilience, and investing in people and leadership.
Opportunity Neighborhoods
Where a family lives can shape a child's future. We are helping families access neighborhoods with strong schools, safer communities, resources, and greater economic opportunity. The plan draws on Opportunity Atlas research to inform this approach.
Child-Centered Case Management
Instead of focusing only on resolving today's housing crisis, we're asking a bigger question: What future does this family envision for its children? Then we work backward to help build the conditions that make that future possible.
The plan describes coordinated supports that could include childcare, education, financial empowerment, healthcare, nutrition, income stability, and opportunity.
Stacking the Deck for Successful Futures
Housing becomes the foundation upon which additional supports are built—so families don't simply exit homelessness, but have a greater opportunity to thrive long after Hamilton Families' services end.
For too many families, exiting homelessness has historically meant leaving San Francisco—and leaving behind schools, jobs, family, healthcare providers, and community networks.
Hamilton Families is working to change that.
We're expanding landlord partnerships and housing opportunities so more families can remain rooted in the city they call home while gaining access to neighborhoods where children have greater opportunities to thrive.
Because of this plan, more families will have the opportunity to:
remain stably housed when financial crises arise;
keep children rooted in their schools and communities;
access neighborhoods and resources that support long-term opportunity;
build greater economic stability; and
create stronger futures for the next generation.
This Strategic Plan doesn't replace what Hamilton Families has built. It builds upon it.
For more than four decades, we have developed expertise in homelessness prevention, emergency shelter, transitional housing, Rapid Re-Housing, Children's Services, housing stability, and landlord engagement.
Those programs become the foundation for the next phase of our work.
Financial Resilience
Diversify revenue
Grow unrestricted philanthropy
Strengthen equitable government contracts
Improve long-term financial planning
Invest in facilities and infrastructure
The plan explicitly calls for diversified funding, stronger public contracts, multi-year financial planning, and capital solutions.
People & Leadership
Competitive compensation
Leadership development
Professional growth
Strong organizational culture
Better systems and communication
Deeper Board engagement
Over the next three years, Hamilton Families will:
Track progress against clearly defined goals.
Learn from the data and adjust our approach.
Report regularly to our community.
Scale strategies that demonstrate meaningful results for families.
The plan specifically commits to tracking progress, evaluating and adapting the approach, and regularly sharing updates with supporters.
Explore the research, strategies, and vision behind Hamilton Families' next chapter.
Ending family homelessness requires more than one organization. It requires donors, policymakers, landlords, employers, community organizations, and neighbors working together.
Together, we can build a San Francisco where families aren't simply able to find housing—but have the opportunity to build lasting futures.
