Hero

Upstream Symposium 2026: Frontline Solutions to Homelessness

Upstream Symposium 2026: Frontline Solutions to Homelessness

This year’s event asks what it will take to move from a reactive right-to-shelter system to proactive right-to-housing system. With billions spent on emergency shelter and housing pathways still too fragmented, Upstream 2026 will examine how prevention, shelter, supportive services, and permanent housing can work as one coordinated strategy to help people get housed — and stay housed long-term.

Attend the Event

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

8:30 am - 3:00 pm

8:30 am - 3:00 pm

Museum of Jewish Heritage

36 Battery Place

2nd Floor Events Hall

New York, NY 10208

Museum of Jewish Heritage

36 Battery Place

2nd Floor Events Hall

New York, NY 10208

Venue Image
View on Google maps  

Dress Attire: 

Dress Attire: 

Business Casual.

Parking Information:

Parking Information:

Discounted parking is available at GGMC Parking (8 2nd PL) parking garage. Present your parking ticket at the welcome desk for discount validation.

Sponsorship & Ticket Information:

Sponsorship & Ticket Information:

For more information about sponsorships and tickets, please email lblake@cityandstateny.com.

Promo Image

image linking to registration
image linking to registration

Agenda

9 AM EDT

9 AM EDT

Introductory Remarks

9:15 AM EDT

9:15 AM EDT

Welcome Remarks

9:30 AM EDT

9:30 AM EDT

Opening Plenary - Housing as the Goal: Moving Beyond a Shelter-First Response

10 AM EDT

10 AM EDT

Policy: From Shelter Obligation to Housing Strategy

New York spends billions responding to homelessness, but the path from shelter to permanent housing remains too slow, fragmented, and difficult to navigate. This panel will examine the policy, funding, regulatory, and administrative changes needed to make housing the organizing goal of the system—not a separate endpoint people struggle to reach after a crisis. 

New York spends billions responding to homelessness, but the path from shelter to permanent housing remains too slow, fragmented, and difficult to navigate. This panel will examine the policy, funding, regulatory, and administrative changes needed to make housing the organizing goal of the system—not a separate endpoint people struggle to reach after a crisis. 

New York spends billions responding to homelessness, but the path from shelter to permanent housing remains too slow, fragmented, and difficult to navigate. This panel will examine the policy, funding, regulatory, and administrative changes needed to make housing the organizing goal of the system—not a separate endpoint people struggle to reach after a crisis. 

New York spends billions responding to homelessness, but the path from shelter to permanent housing remains too slow, fragmented, and difficult to navigate. This panel will examine the policy, funding, regulatory, and administrative changes needed to make housing the organizing goal of the system—not a separate endpoint people struggle to reach after a crisis. 

11 AM EDT

11 AM EDT

Morning Break

11:20 AM EDT

11:20 AM EDT

Practice: The Missing Path from Crisis to Home

On the ground, the gaps are visible: people enter shelter when prevention fails, wait too long for housing pathways to open, and often need support after placement to remain stably housed. This panel will focus on the operating models that can connect the pieces — shelter, prevention, housing navigation, supportive services, affordable housing operations, and tenancy support — so people are not left to move through disconnected systems on their own.

On the ground, the gaps are visible: people enter shelter when prevention fails, wait too long for housing pathways to open, and often need support after placement to remain stably housed. This panel will focus on the operating models that can connect the pieces — shelter, prevention, housing navigation, supportive services, affordable housing operations, and tenancy support — so people are not left to move through disconnected systems on their own.

On the ground, the gaps are visible: people enter shelter when prevention fails, wait too long for housing pathways to open, and often need support after placement to remain stably housed. This panel will focus on the operating models that can connect the pieces — shelter, prevention, housing navigation, supportive services, affordable housing operations, and tenancy support — so people are not left to move through disconnected systems on their own.

On the ground, the gaps are visible: people enter shelter when prevention fails, wait too long for housing pathways to open, and often need support after placement to remain stably housed. This panel will focus on the operating models that can connect the pieces — shelter, prevention, housing navigation, supportive services, affordable housing operations, and tenancy support — so people are not left to move through disconnected systems on their own.

12:30 PM EDT

12:30 PM EDT

Lunch Keynote: The Cost of a System Without a Path Home

1:30 PM EDT

1:30 PM EDT

Closing Remarks

1:45 PM EDT

1:45 PM EDT

Afternoon Breakouts

BREAKOUT A FORECAST: Models That Move People Home — and Keep Them There

BREAKOUT B FINDINGS: What Prevention Data Teaches Us About Keeping People Housed

BREAKOUT A FORECAST: Models That Move People Home — and Keep Them There

BREAKOUT B FINDINGS: What Prevention Data Teaches Us About Keeping People Housed

BREAKOUT A FORECAST: Models That Move People Home — and Keep Them There

BREAKOUT B FINDINGS: What Prevention Data Teaches Us About Keeping People Housed

BREAKOUT A FORECAST: Models That Move People Home — and Keep Them There

BREAKOUT B FINDINGS: What Prevention Data Teaches Us About Keeping People Housed

3 PM EDT

3 PM EDT

Event Concludes

Underwriters

Presented By

HELP USA