Vicky arrived at Oasis Family Shelter on September 17, 2025, as a family of four, desperate for a second chance at life. After fleeing a domestically abusive partner, being evicted from what was once a stable home, and transferring to Oasis from another homeless shelter, Vicky found herself at one of the lowest points of her life.
When her Case Manager, began working with Vicky in April 2026, I was shocked to learn that she was not on any housing waitlist. The reason? She had never qualified for one. After working closely with Vicky and learning about her history of homelessness and trauma, as well as the significant barriers she was facing, including battling cancer and navigating various mental health challenges, it became clear that Vicky had fallen through the cracks of the system.
On May 29, 2026, Vicky was referred for a housing prioritization assessment. When we received her score and learned that she did not qualify for placement on a housing waitlist, I submitted an administrative review to San Francisco’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH). I believed her circumstances had not been fully reflected in her assessment, and I was determined to advocate for her family and request a thorough review.
The response took nearly two months. During that time, Vicky confessed that she had begun accepting the possibility that she and her children might never experience a stable home again. She had begun mourning the life she once knew, fearing that cancer might take away what homelessness had not already taken from her. She had given up hope.
It was bittersweet to watch Vicky’s children grow up within the shelter. Yet, there were also moments worth celebrating, including watching her oldest child become the first in the family to attend college—a milestone that represented hope, resilience, and a future beyond homelessness.
We were determined to continue fighting alongside Vicky and her children because no family should have to grow up in a shelter. No child should have to ask for permission to play volleyball or spend time with friends because of shelter curfews. Every child deserves the freedom to experience childhood, and every family deserves the opportunity to build a life of stability, dignity, and independence.
Finally, on July 20, 2026, the city provided an answer. For Vicky, it was an answer to her prayers: she had been approved for Permanent Supportive Housing.
From there, we worked together to turn that approval into a home. I collaborated with Vicky’s housing navigator, confirmed the completion of her furniture referral, helped coordinate moving services, and walked alongside her through each step of the housing process. After years of instability, uncertainty, and waiting, Vicky officially moved out of Oasis Family Shelter and into her new home on September 22, 2026.
After securing her home, Vicky shared, “I appreciate my Case Manager and all shelter staff’s involvement and consistent care for my family and I. I felt seen, heard, and the support helped me gain motivation to secure housing.” Her children also expressed how incredibly thankful they were for the temporary shelter that gave their family a safe place to stay during one of the most difficult chapters of their lives.
Vicky’s journey is a reminder that sometimes hope begins with simply having someone willing to keep fighting when you no longer have the strength to fight for yourself. Through advocacy, collaboration, compassion, and unwavering support, Vicky and her children were able to close the chapter of shelter living and begin a new one—one rooted in safety, stability, and the freedom to finally call a place their home.