‘We can all fight together in this struggle!’ says homeless mother

Latest

Speakers and members of The Village, an independent women and children’s tent community, gather for a MLK Jr. Day celebration and speak-out at Oscar Grant Plaza in downtown Oakland, CA.
PHOTO/SARAH MENEFEE

 
These powerful words on women and homelessness were sounded from the stage at this year’s Women’s March in San Francisco:
Sam Lew, Coalition of Homelessness:
As the rain pours, I think about the homeless pregnant woman who sleeps outside our office. How in the city if you are pregnant and homeless you still can’t get into the family shelter till your third trimester. No matter how badly we want to get her into housing, it will be years. She holds her belly and waits, I think about how she will still be sleeping on our doorstep tonight. When I am asked ‘how can we end homelessness?’, I say ‘ask homeless women.’ Homelessness is a women’s issue!
Tracey Mixon, a Peer Organizer with the Coalition of Homelessness:
“I’m a San Francisco native, right up by the Fillmore, and I’m pregnant, homeless in the city. Real talk: I never thought I’d be homeless with my daughter, let alone work on Pro C [which taxes large corporations for homeless services], but I helped on that and that is empowering. I did this with my daughter, passing out flyers, ‘cause I wanted her to see what true activism is. Around this city it’s hard when there are no real resources offered for homeless mothers and families. There’s no shame in being homeless, the only shame is in the city not doing enough for people. This is my city, I was born and raised here, and I don’t plan on leaving here. I am in this struggle every single day, I’m trying to make it better for not just my daughter but for everybody in this city. We can all fight together in this struggle!”

PT Logo collage
+ Articles by this author

Free to republish but please credit the People's Tribune. Visit us at www.peoplestribune.org, email peoplestribune@gmail.com, or call 773-486-3551.

The People’s Tribune brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: ©2024 peoplestribune.org. Please donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

‘I Am a Political Prisoner’ Says Jailed Immigrant Rights Activist

In this interview with Democracy Now, Journalist Maria Hinojosa describes her recent interview in an ICE detention center in Colorado with jailed immigration activist Jeanette Vizguerra.

War No More – Veterans Reflect on the Meaning of Memorial Day

Veterans for Peace say wars will not end, – and nuclear war will not be averted – unless there is a sea-change in the thinking of the U.S. people and our political leaders.

Harvard University Stands Up to Illegal Federal Government Actions

Read letter by Harvard President Alan M. Garner, about the University's stance on the Federal government's illegal actions to force Harvard to give up the school's academic independence and academic freedom.

Trump’s Big Cruel, Deadly Policy Bill is a Healthcare Heist

Outrage is rising against Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” that would give massive tax breaks to the rich while slashing Medicaid, nutrition, and clean energy. Some say 14 million people could lose health coverage.

Is FREE Electricity in our Future?

Electricity should be a right, free to all.  Yet, for-profit energy companies set prices to maximize profits to shareholders, even when users can’t afford the prices and suffer shutoffs.

More from the People's Tribune