Progress. On Purpose.
5th Annual RTFH Conference on Homelessness
December 9–10, 2026 | Hilton San Diego Bayfront
Progress doesn’t happen by chance. It takes intentional leadership, collaboration, and a shared commitment to advancing solutions that make a difference.
Join us for two days of learning, connection, and conversations focused on strengthening our collective response to homelessness.
2026 Peer Awards – Recognizing the People Behind the Progress
Great work happens every day across our region. Help us recognize the individuals and teams whose dedication, leadership, and commitment are making a difference in the lives of people experiencing homelessness.
Nominations close November 13, 2026.
Become a Conference Sponsor
Help Us Keep the Conference Accessible
Sponsorships make it possible for RTFH to offer a national-level conference at an affordable registration price, ensuring broad participation from frontline providers, community organizations, people with lived experience, and leaders across sectors.
The actual cost of hosting the conference is approximately $500–$600 per attendee, yet registration is just $150. Our sponsors help bridge that gap, supporting access to national speakers, meaningful learning opportunities, and cross-sector collaboration.
We welcome organizations, businesses, foundations, and community partners interested in supporting this important regional convening.
For sponsorship questions or partnership opportunities, contact lahela.mattox@rtfhsd.org.
About the RTFH Conference
The RTFH Conference on Homelessness has become one of the region’s leading convenings focused on homelessness response, systems leadership, housing solutions, and cross-sector collaboration.
Since 2022, we have brought together frontline providers, healthcare partners, housing organizations, policymakers, advocates, researchers, funders, and people with lived experience to align systems, share what works, and accelerate solutions. Our commitment remains the same: creating an accessible, high-impact conference that strengthens partnerships, advances practical solutions, and inspires shared responsibility for preventing and ending homelessness.
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Explore Past Conferences
Explore the conversations, speakers, and lessons from previous RTFH Conferences on Homelessness in the sections below.
For general conference questions, contact events@rtfhsd.org.
2025 RTFH Conference on Homelessness
In 2025, RTFH convened its annual conference under the theme Harnessing the Power of Purpose, bringing together leaders, providers, policymakers, and people with lived experience at a pivotal moment for homelessness response systems. More than a standalone event, the conference served as a strategic point of alignment—grounded in data, informed by lived expertise, and focused on what is working to drive measurable progress. Discussions centered on strengthening system coordination, advancing housing-focused solutions, and reinforcing shared accountability for outcomes. Beyond the sessions, the conference deepened relationships across sectors, creating space for connection, reflection, and renewed commitment. Participants left with greater clarity on priorities, practical tools to support implementation, and a shared sense of purpose to sustain momentum and translate strategy into action across the region.
View the 2025 RTFH Conference Agenda
Watch the 2025 Conference Recap video by clicking on the image below.
Read the 2025 Conference Recap here
2024 RTFH Conference on Homelessness
RTFH hosted its third annual conference, Mindset, Motivation & Moxie: Rethinking San Diego’s Homelessness Story, on December 3rd and 4th at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. With over 1,000 attendees representing more than 165 organizations, the event reinforced the region’s commitment to making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring. Building on previous successes, the conference featured engaging discussions, impactful keynotes, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities that left attendees energized and ready to implement innovative solutions. A central theme was the role of leadership, mindset, and strategy in addressing homelessness, highlighted in a conversation between Tamera Kohler and Iain De Jong. They emphasized that true leadership is not about titles but about resilience, strategic thinking, and the courage to drive change. Throughout the event, sessions challenged participants to strengthen their workforce, rethink approaches, and foster collaboration.
Grounded in lived experience and framed around The Regional Community Action Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in San Diego, the 3rd Annual RTFH Conference brought us together in learning, discussion, and collaboration with:
• Local, State, and National Experts on Homelessness
• Local Elected Officials
• Lived Experience Experts and Advisors
• Peers and Partners
Here is the schedule for the 2024 conference: 2024 RTFH Conference Agenda
We’re thrilled to share a video recap of the event with you—an expression of our passion, our purpose, and our deep gratitude. It captures the spirit of the conference and the heart of this work, and we are honored to offer it as a reflection of what we can achieve together for our community.
Watch the 2024 Conference Recap video by clicking on the image below.
2023 RTFH Conference on Homelessness
Thank you to attendees, speakers, sponsors, and more for making the 2023 RTFH Conference on Homelessness a huge success. With nearly 1,000 registered attendees, over 160 organizations represented, and two packed days of learning and collaboration, “Peers, Partners, and Practices” showed that our region is all about reducing and ending homelessness. We’ll see you in 2024!
With keynote addresses by Iain De Jong and Dr. Margot Kushel, panels featuring national, state, and local leaders, San Diegans with lived experience, RTFH and CoC board members, elected officials, and frontline staff members. RTFH was honored to put together a rich conference that increased collaboration and knowledge sharing and left many participants feeling energized and reconnected to the work and each other.
Keep reading the recap the events that made the second conference one to remember by clicking here.
View 2023 RTFH Conference Agenda
2022 RTFH Conference on Homelessness
The RTFH hosted its first annual conference on homelessness November 30th and December 1st 2022. With a focus on Solutions for San Diego, the 2022 RTFH Conference on Homelessness was an opportunity to get stakeholders, people in the work, and everyone with an interest in reducing homelessness in our region together in one place. It was a full two days of learning, where we were honored to have national, state, and local leaders and experts together in support of San Diego and our goals to reduce homelessness, including:
- Ann Oliva: CEO, National Alliance to End Homelessness
- Amanda Misiko Andere: CEO, Funders Together to End Homelessness
- Iain De Jong: President & CEO, OrgCode Consulting, Inc.
- Gregg Colburn: Co-Author, “Homelessness is a Housing Problem”
- Donald Whitehead: Executive Director, National Coalition for the Homeless
- Helene Schneider: United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)
- Keith Harris: VA Homeless Program, National Director and Senior Ex. Homeless Agent LA
- Ed Boyte: The Listening Group Founder and National Expert on Diversion
- Darlene Mathews & Michele S Williams: Principles of EIA, Nationally Recognized Experts
- Local Elected Officials
- Lived Experience Experts and Advisors
The conference will take place from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm on Wednesday, November 30th, and 8:00 am – 5:30 pm on Thursday, December 1st at the San Diego Convention Center.
Each ticket comes with full access to the two-day conference, breakout sessions, and food options, including a plated lunch on Day 2. Grounded in lived experience and racial equity, we truly believe that this conference will have a big impact on our region’s most pressing issue. We look forward to seeing you at the San Diego Convention Center to take part in this important two-day event!
