HFPC 2026

Pre-Conference: May 11, 2026 | Conference: May 12-14, 2026

Hilton San Francisco Union Square

in downtown San Francisco, CA

PRESENTED BY: DESC and Pathways Housing First Institute

PLENARY INFORMATION

Tuesday, May 12, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm

  • Over the past two decades, Housing First has reshaped the response to homelessness. Research, implementation, ad advocacy have established a strong evidence base, resulting in measurable reductions in homelessness and improved housing stability across communities. The evidence on how to reduce homelessness has not changed.‍ ‍

    What has changed is the political context in which decisions are made. Funding rules, performance measures, and public expectations are increasingly shaped by ideology as well as outcomes, creating new pressures on systems and leaders.‍ ‍

    This plenary examines how leaders make real-world decisions when politics, not evidence, sets the terms. Panelists will explore how state and local systems protect effective strategies, adapt without abandoning core commitments, and determine when and how to push back against policies that undermine long-term results. The focus is on leadership judgment, tradeoffs, and accountability in a changing policy environment.‍ ‍

    Opening Keynote:‍ ‍

    Patrick Markee, prominent author and housing advocate known for his work on homelessness, particularly through his book "Placeless: Homelessness in the New Gilded Age”‍ ‍

    Panel Discussion Moderator:  Invited pending confirmation‍ ‍

    Panelists:‍ ‍

    • Ann Oliva, Chief Executive Officer, National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)

    • ‍Invited panelist pending confirmation

    • Invited panelist with lived expertise pending confirmation

Wednesday, May 13, 12:15 pm - 2:00 pm

  • Housing First was never meant to be housing only. Its effectiveness depends on accessible, high-quality support, including health and behavioral health care, supportive employment, education, and other community-based services across the broader social-service and public-health system. Housing is the foundation for stability, but long-term wellbeing and recovery depend on what comes next.‍ ‍

    This plenary examines what systems must put in place to make that next step possible: improving access to supportive services, coordinating care across housing, health, and behavioral health systems, reducing administrative barriers, and creating real pathways to employment, education, and community participation. The conversation centers on how systems can  create the conditions that let people set and pursue their goals, build stability, and live meaningful, self-directed lives in their communities.‍ ‍

    Opening Keynote:‍ ‍

    Neil Gong, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of California San Diego, and author of book on inequality in mental health care, Sons, Daughters, and Sidewalk Psychotics.‍ ‍

    Panel Discussion Moderator: ‍ ‍

    • Deborah Padgett, PhD, Professor, Silver School of Social Work at New York University‍ ‍

    Panelists:‍ ‍

    • Margot Kushel, MD, Professor of Medicine, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), and  Director, Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative

    • ‍Va Lecia Adams Kellum, PhD, Senior Advisor, Initiative on Health and Homelessness

    • Invited panelist with lived expertise pending confirmation

Thursday, May 14, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

  • Housing First succeeds because of the people who carry it forward every day. Frontline teams provide the services, coordination, and continuity that help people move beyond housing stability toward recovery and community integration. This work spans supportive housing and the broader systems of outreach, behavioral health, and supportive services that sustain Housing First in practice. When turnover rises, it reflects system strain, not a lack of commitment, and disrupts the continuity needed to support long-term recovery.

    This plenary positions workforce capacity as essential infrastructure. Panelists will examine how organizations and public systems strengthen supervision, safety, compensation, self-care, and pathways for growth, including meaningful roles and leadership opportunities for people with lived experience. The focus is on building the stability and support required to sustain a skilled workforce, allowing staff to focus on their clients and deliver Housing First with continuity, quality, and person-centered practice.

    Opening Performance: Housing Skit

    Panel Discussion Moderator:

    • Invited pending confirmation

    Panelists:

    • Celina Alvarez, Executive Director, Housing Works

    • Invited peer lived expertise pending confirmation

    • Invited policy and workforce advocate pending confirmation

    • Invited workforce wellness and trauma stewardship perspective pending confirmation