Supes may up relief for homeless mothers

The study of 1,800 low-income women indicated that 20 percent had problems with housing. Of those, about 40 percent live in temporary make-shift housing with family or friends, and 40 percent live in stressful and overcrowded conditions. About half the women with housing problems and almost all of homeless pregnant women are under 26.

The study reported that younger women tend to rely on family and friends for temporary housing assistance, and have relatively few substance abuse and mental health problems. As the age of the women increases, so does mental health and substance abuse problems and their dependence on shelters for housing, the study said.

Davila recommended intervening early on with women in need to prevent longer term problems.

"If we want to be a society who takes care of society, what we need to do is get behind the moms so their children are not the next clients we see," Davila said.

Make-shift housing arrangements can be very detrimental to mothers and children who need a stable and secure environment, the study said. Pregnant and single mothers who move from place to place are less likely to receive prenatal and medical care for themselves and their children. They are also less able to provide the attention and nurturance needed for their children's development.

"Without stable safe homes parents are preoccupied with surviving and not able to focus on the higher needs for themselves or their children," the study said.

The county's current network of emergency shelters and transitional housing provides some relief from living on the street, but the study recommended that more be done. The work group will be looking at other Bay Area counties to see how they have helped low-income mothers through the area's current housing crisis. And they will be looking into the development of a one- to four-year pilot project of supportive housing with a focus on career training as well as providing for basic needs.

But the most realistic solution, according to Davila, may be expanding existing housing programs, like Shelter Network and HIP Housing - just as single mothers have trouble finding housing, so would new social service agencies.

The work group will also look into finding loans and grants from the state and federal sources.

"I think even one or two children being saved or helped is important," said Supervisor Mary Griffin. Griffin commissioned the study.