Day 163 at the 16th St. Plaza A Womans Place

A shift occurred today outside A Woman’s Place shelter as city employees, including police and a Department of Public Works crew, took over the area to power-wash the sidewalk. Lillyonna, a 31-year-old woman who sometimes stays at the shelter, polished off a popsicle amidst broken glass and described her encounters with homeless outreach workers who lacked resources to help. She emphasized the urgent need for housing, stating, “If it’s illegal to be homeless, we need more housing. ” Lillyonna also expressed a desire for a case manager to teach her “life-management skills. ” After her mother’s death, she found it difficult to maintain her mental health and recovery efforts, highlighting the obstacles many face in accessing support services.

The shelter, which accommodates 56 women, signifies a critical resource amid a larger housing crisis in San Francisco. Lillyonna’s experiences reflect the struggles of navigating homelessness in an urban environment. Local officials must address these issues to provide meaningful solutions for individuals like Lillyonna.