The most vulnerable women will now have this bright, safe space to call home.
In an effort to prevent the damaging cycle of homelessness, City Officials have opened Jelani House, which is part of a wider program to protect the city’s most vulnerable. The transitional housing program will provide pregnant women with shelter in a beautiful Bayview building, along with classes and assistance to equip them for a future beyond their stay.
View this post on Instagram
The sun-soaked vicinity is a former convent and can accommodate up to 17 mothers or soon-to-be mothers at once. Each resident will have a private room and access to a communal kitchen, living area, dining room, a deck and a backyard. On top of that, the full-time support staff will be offering prenatal education, yoga classes, group therapy and essential life-skills. The intention of this is to foster a strong community of women that are well on their way to creating a safe and stable life for their children.
There are around 200 pregnant women on the waitlist for emergency shelter, according to the Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP), with the average stay ranging between 6 months to a year.
View this post on Instagram
One day in NICU can cost more than two months of emergency housing for a whole family. When you consider the life-threatening risks that are associated with pregnancy in unstable circumstances, it’s easy to see how many women will choose to avoid care all together.
London Breed opened the house on Monday stating that “This will be a place for pregnant people and mothers to not only have a safe place to get off the streets and take care of their babies, but also get connected to housing so their families can have a stable place to grow up and thrive.”
The Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing will be covering the annual $1.3 million in operational costs, according to The Chronicle. In addition to this, the mayor plans to have another 1,000 beds open by the end of the year.
If you know anyone who may need assistance get in touch with HPP by clicking here or see contact details below.
Contact
Homeless Prenatal Program, 2500 18th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Phone: (415) 546-6756
Email: info@homelessprenatal.org