The ABCs of homelessness

I slept in a bunk bed like all other residents. Twelve beds were empty that night, so I wasn’t taking one away from someone in need. I had done the same in 2014 at the Maple Street shelter — inspired by Pope Francis, who was rumored to don civilian clothes and spend time with the homeless in Rome. I thought to myself, if the pope can do it, I can do it.

Now — 11 years later, with homelessness in the U.S. at record highs — I wanted to see what had changed. Angela, Becky and Caroline were not unusual for the shelter. They were older, reflecting a UCSF study that found that almost half of all homeless people in the U.S. became homeless in middle age. They were also working for wages utterly insufficient to afford a place to live in San Mateo County — one of the most expensive counties in the country. From my 14 conversations that night, I estimated that 40% of the people staying at Safe Harbor had jobs — some more than one job.

As of 2024, San Mateo County counted 1,145 unsheltered homeless individuals and 985 in our shelters. We currently have six shelters. The county’s goal is to reach “functional zero” — where any homeless individual seeking shelter will have a spot.

Many of the people I spoke to at Safe Harbor have been in the system for years. They move from shelter to shelter — sometimes with a few days on buses in between. Eric, 66, moved from the Navigation Center — the county’s largest homeless shelter — to Safe Harbor and is nearing his exit date. He was working in construction but then had two heart attacks. He told me he simply can’t afford a place to rent.

Medical emergencies, mental illness, accidents, addiction or relationship issues often contribute to the circumstances sending people into shelters. Caroline had breast cancer and has a heart condition. She used to be a caregiver but had a falling out with her employer. Becky used to live and work in Chicago until her son was shot and killed. She had a difficult time coping and came back to the Bay Area where she has family.

Having family nearby is also not unusual for shelter residents. Angela lived a middle-class life until a bad divorce upended it. She’s been homeless for 10 years. Her mother lives in the area, but Angela says she “can’t live with her.” Frankie, a woman in her 30s, also has parents in the area but they are estranged. Frankie told me that she struggled with drug addiction but is now sober, and her three children remain in foster care.

I believe that many of the people I talked to could be restored to stable lives, but we need to improve our system to help them. As one male resident put it succinctly, “I can function, but I can’t function by myself.”

Samaritan House — which runs Safe Harbor — recently started to bring mental health services into their shelters. Laura Bent, CEO of Samaritan House, says that mental health needs are higher than ever because the cases are so complex, but federal and state funding are shrinking. “From a mental health perspective, there aren’t enough services available to meet the needs of the folks we are serving these days. That’s true of all the shelters,” she says. She points out that those services also need to be extended into permanent and supportive housing.

Secondly, we need to bring job training into the shelters. Angela, Becky and Caroline are so busy working their low-paying jobs, they don’t have the time and energy to plan an alternative path that could lead them to better jobs and self-sufficiency.

And thirdly, let’s explore ways to bridge family rifts. Is there a role the county could play in reconnecting family members and facilitating better living situations?

It was humbling and eye-opening to meet the people who are living in our shelters. Let’s listen to their stories and come up with bold ideas to address our homeless crisis. In the richest county in California — where innovation is in our DNA — surely we can do this!

Jackie Speier represents District 1 on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. Jackie has represented the residents of the San Mateo County for over 40 years on all levels of government, starting on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors in 1981, followed by her service in the California Assembly and Senate for 18 years, and in the U.S. Congress for almost 15 years.