They understand the constant back pain from moving between couches while pregnant. They make sure their children are tucked into makeshift beds in cars or under bridges before they allow themselves to cry.
Since January, a group of eight mothers in San Francisco has been meeting regularly as part of a pilot program by a local nonprofit. The program aims to help them share their stories and learn how to advocate for families like theirs who are experiencing homelessness.
“I feel like I’ve let my kids down,” says Teniah Tercero, tears welling up, as she describes exposing her three young daughters to the drug use in the gritty Tenderloin neighborhood where they stay at a shelter.
The room falls silent. Christiana Porter, another mother, reaches out to comfort Tercero, while someone passes around a box of tissues.
“I know exactly how that feels,” adds Danica Gutierrez, also a mother of three girls.
Initially hesitant to share the hardest parts of her life with strangers, Gutierrez, 29, found strength in the group.
Danica Gutierrez and Christiana Porter hug after they met with politicians (Via Delilah Simmons/Getty Images)
“After being in the group, I realized these women have powerful voices,” she said. “Maybe together, our voices can make a difference in someone else’s life.”
These women are part of the Family Advisory Committee launched this year by Compass Family Services in San Francisco. The committee aims to empower homeless individuals to advocate for their needs.
They have learned about the city’s budget process, met with politicians, and shared their personal experiences to highlight what the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing and nonprofits should offer.
Overall, the women describe a homeless services system that is confusing and sometimes unwelcoming, with websites lacking clear information and staff who can seem dismissive.
They advocate for family housing away from areas with drug addiction or behavioral issues, and they call for better-trained staff to support homeless families. They argue that more funding should go toward housing rather than short-term shelters.
