The day Jessica lost her brother was the day she also lost her home. Initially, she and her two teenagers were staying with her parents, but after the sudden loss of Jessica’s brother COVID-19, it became too risky for Jessica to remain.
Jessica’s mother was battling cancer and the thought of losing another loved one to COVID-19 was unbearable. So, Jessica and her two kids moved out to avoid accidentally transmitting the deadly virus to her medically frail mother.
With no where to go, the family of three had to find hotels to stay in or sleep in their car. Jessica worked as a part-time phlebotomist in the emergency department at San Francisco General Hospital, as well as a food delivery worker, but it was not enough to find stable housing. Jessica knew that in order to achieve more, she needed to get them off the streets.
“Being homeless is a humbling experience,” she said. “In terms of, you know, having access to going to the doctors and just having access to a warm meal—those things were difficult. You just kind of keep treading on, but you definitely appreciate warm meals. We definitely appreciated when we would have the ability to have some space and showers.”
Today, Jessica’s life looks quite different. She is now a TNDC resident and has transitioned to full-time at work while studying at San Francisco City College full-time for her B.A. in nursing. She shared that if not for affordable housing, she would never have dreamed of becoming a full-time student.
“I knew things were never going to be easy, but having a home makes things possible,” she said. “Being in my own space and being able to hear the kids in the background and knowing they're safe. As a mother, you just want your kids to be happy. Having a home makes it so I can continue to progress toward the goals that I have while creating stability for the kids, and then, you know, just making it all happen.”
With a stable home, the single mother said her kids are able to explore the city with curiosity and without worrying about where they may rest their heads at night. Her son, Lucas, is attending summer internships that engage him in career possibilities. Her daughter, Audriana, is studying for her GED. And while they share a two-bedroom apartment, the small sacrifice of Jessica sleeping in the living room is a tradeoff to ensure her kids have the space to grow.
Jessica added that with a roof over her head both she and her mother can now grieve her beloved brother in peace.
“This is everything I've been working for,” Jessica said. “I'm never going to forget the kindness of these programs that have helped and that make it possible for me to continue my career and my goals and feel good about myself and my kids. It takes a village to create an even better, stronger village.”
Jessica’s TNDC building is GreenPoint Gold-Rated and includes onsite social workers and property management staff. Tenants have a built-in support network to help them adjust to their new home, feel welcome, and remain stably housed. In addition to onsite support, it offers two community rooms, two outdoor terraces, indoor bike parking, and a community-serving ground-floor space.
