On Thursday, May 14, a benefit for the Salvation Army’s The Way Out program drew a who’s who of San Francisco’s political leaders and key figures to The Conservatory at One Sansome. Demand for the Lighting the Way Gala was so high (as were ticket prices at $350) that organizers had to squeeze in additional tables at the last minute to accommodate late buyers.
Support for the Salvation Army has surged in recent years, largely because of the success of The Way Out. Under the leadership of its executive director, Steve Adami, the program offers a comprehensive recovery-focused system of care that connects participants to counseling, sober housing, and employment support.
Mayor Daniel Lurie, buoyed by a San Francisco Chronicle poll days earlier showing a 74 percent approval rating, received a standing ovation. In his remarks, he praised the Salvation Army’s efforts for going beyond just providing a warm bed. He lauded the nonprofit for helping people reconnect with treatment, recovery, and community.
“When we talk about breaking the cycle of homelessness and addiction on our streets, it’s about getting people on a path to recovery,” Lurie said. “This week, alongside members of the Salvation Army and residents of Hope House (a Salvation Army abstinence-based, recovery-focused shelter that supports adults experiencing homelessness and struggling with addiction), we announced that unsheltered homelessness in San Francisco is at its lowest levels in 15 years. That means 1,000 fewer people are sleeping on our streets than in 2024.”
Lurie praised Supervisor Matt Dorsey for helping make San Francisco “a recovery-first city” and recognized other officials in attendance: Supervisors Danny Sauter, Stephen Sherrill, and Bilal Mahmood; Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman; District Attorney Brooke Jenkins; and Assemblyman Matt Haney.
Cedric Akbar, executive director of Positive Directions Equals Change, and Adami honored Shireen McSpadden, executive director of the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, for her tenure at the department. She leaves the role at the end of June.
Adami highlighted The Way Out’s growth, from 10 basic beds to a complete 550-bed recovery system of care. “Our impact has been nothing short of amazing,” he said. “In the past 34 months, we conducted 5,000 drug tests with less than 2 percent coming back positive. … We have a 78 percent success rate. The people who went through the recovery system of care exited clean and sober, employed and housed.”
He noted that people are now buying into the concept of recovery, a major shift in San Francisco, which has long emphasized harm reduction. Abstinence, once dismissed as stigmatizing, is now viewed as the goal.
Rick and Cathy Osgood were honored for 25 years of service and volunteerism with the Salvation Army, with a special focus on the drug-saturated Tenderloin neighborhood. Rick served on the executive committee that developed and launched The Way Out. As a couple, they helped establish the Culinary Training Academy, which has transformed lives by turning kitchen skills into career opportunities.
Though Adami acknowledged that Salvation Army’s work is far from over, he shared the news that the city would fund the Culinary Training Academy. More, the Department of Public Health would support the Joseph McPhee Center (a recovery focused transitional housing provider for justice involved people exiting residential treatment) and officials are working on a new project for people who complete drug treatment — details forthcoming.
The approach of providing more government housing without addressing root causes has fallen short, said Adami. However, behind every data point is a human life.
Andrew Domino, a Salvation Army program graduate took the stage. Domino explained his decade-long struggles with drug addiction, incarceration, and homelessness but through the addiction treatment program he has achieved recovery and rebuilt ties with his family.
According to the 2026 point-in-time headcount, 7,973 individuals remain on the streets of San Francisco. Those numbers may be disputed, but what is undeniable is that the vast majority are suffering from severe addiction, compounded by mental and physical health challenges. The city still has a long way to go, but the energy in the room and the clear shift toward a recovery-first approach suggest that, this time, reality may finally catch up to the hype.
