Homeless Children's Network

This year compounding crises have hit homeless children, youth, and families in San Francisco the hardest, in particular Black/African American and Latinx families. 

Homeless Children’s Network (HCN) works every day to decrease the impact of trauma and to help empower families towards a brighter future. We can’t do this work without the support of our communities and donors. Together, we can uplift one another as our families reach towards a place of healing and strength.

ABOUT HOMELESS CHILDREN'S NETWORK

Since 1992, HCN has been providing comprehensive mental health services, case management, early childhood mental health consultation, education, aftercare, family education and support services, community & youth leadership and advocacy for 2,400+ homeless children, youth, families, and providers each year at no cost to clients. Our comprehensive clinical services enable us to work closely with each family to understand their needs and to connect them to resources here or through other providers. To increase the effectiveness of collaborative efforts among service providers, HCN is the hub of a 50+ member Collaborative of homeless serving agencies in San Francisco. 

MISSION

HCN’s mission is to decrease the trauma of homelessness and domestic violence for children, youth, and families; to empower families; and to increase the effectiveness of collaborative efforts among service providers to end homelessness and poverty.

PROGRAMS

(New) Ma'at Program: A supportive, holistic, therapeutic community, in which we center and work with African American/Black Families in San Francisco. Ma'at uses a whole-person approach to deliver Afri-centric, heartfelt, mental health wellness care that addresses head-on the historical legacy of intergenerational racism, inequity, and trauma.

(New) Helping Hands: A direct client assistance program started during the COVID-19 pandemic that provides HCN families with gift cards for basic needs such as food and transportation. HCN is also providing laptops to children, youth, and families to connect them to our telehealth services as well as community resources, school, and ultimately the world at large.

Direct Mental Health Treatment: Children, youth, and the families and caregivers that love them receive culturally responsive, strengths-based, trauma-informed direct mental health services and clinical case management—including assessment, development of a Plan of Care, and referrals. 

Case Management, Referrals & Linkages:  Youth and families receive services that help them overcome problems with health care, housing, transportation, public benefits, food insecurity, education, employment, and other issues. 

Family Education & Support Services: HCN's services are designed to meet the unique needs of each child and family. Caregivers benefit from peer support through activities such as Mommy & Me groups.

Community & Youth Leadership Development: Peer groups empower homeless and at-risk youth via community building, communication, teamwork, advocacy, and self-care activities.

SERVICES

• Mental Health Therapy

• Therapeutic Family Services

• Play Therapy

• Group Therapy

• Parenting Groups

• Case Management

• Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation

• After Care Follow-Up Services

• Homeless Family Resource Center

• Advocacy Support

• Basic Need Services

• Holiday Support

• Collaborative Coordination & Training 

WORDS FROM THOSE WE SERVE

شكرا لك. شكرا لكم على كل ما عليك القيام به لمساعدة ابننا والأسرة. ونحن ممتنون لكم يساعدوننا

"Thank you. Thank you for all you do to help our son and family. We are grateful you are helping us." 

-Parents of 5 year old client

 Country of Origin: Iraq

"HCN nos ayudo mucho en apoyarnos con la aucensia del papa de la familia. En un momento en que me senti sola y sin ayuda, HCN me dio apoyo para ser fuerte y saludable en un momento de crisis."

"HCN has been very helpful in supporting us when the father was absent from the family. In a moment when I felt alone and without help, HCN gave me support to be strong and healthy in such a moment of crisis."

-Parent of 6 year old client

 Country of Origin: Bolivia

"Me gusta este lugar porque hay muchos jugetes, juegos, pinturas, abrazos y mi pintura. Me gusta que me ensenaron aqui como calmarme con respiraciones."

"I like this place (HCN) because there are lots of toys, games, paints, hugs, and my painting. I like that they showed me here how to calm myself with breaths."

-6 year old male client of Mexican/Bolivian decent

 Country of Origin: United States

“HCN imekuwa familia yangu katika nchi hii. Kila mtu anayejali na inatoa kila kitu. Watoto wangu kupendwa kuwa na uwezo wa kuzungumza kuhusu chochote bila aibu yoyote. Tunawashukuru sana.”

“HCN has become my family in this country. Everyone cares and gives everything.  My children loved being able to talk about anything without any shame.  We thank you.”

-Parent of 3 children

 Country of Origin: Uganda