Shellena Eskrigde at Tipping Point Community Gala

On May 7th, Shellena Eskridge – Executive Director of Homeless Prenatal Program –  took the stage at Tipping Point Community’s Annual Benefit Dinner at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco as a featured honoree to speak about her journey to motherhood and to highlight HPP’s programs and services that help thousands of mothers and families throughout San Francisco. 

Shellena ended by introducing a video featuring her mother, Shelley — a former client of Homeless Prenatal Program. 

Shelley, born and raised in San Francisco, was introduced to drugs as a young adult. When Shelley found out she was pregnant with Shellena, she made a promise to herself to quit her drug use and dedicate her life to families in crisis. 

A few years later, Shelley and her now two children were still struggling with housing instability when she heard about HPP.

She wanted to give them a home, stability, and a life of peace, saying, “I didn't want them to worry: Are we gonna be able to eat? Are we gonna have lights? I wanted them to still be a kid.”

Initially, HPP helped Shelley with a housing deposit and assigned her a case worker. Together, they set up her new home.

HPP offers transitional housing services and access to immediate essentials — such as food, diapers, and formula — as well as ongoing services, like housing assistance, trauma-informed counseling, substance abuse assistance, and job training. 

“As a parent, we want the best,” Shelley said. “But sometimes we just need somebody to help us, to show us the way, and then we'll take it from there.” 

As a grandma now, Shelley delights in making her grandson happy. She also finds comfort in knowing that yet another generation is being raised to help others. 

“It's overwhelming for me,” Shelley says about the generation-changing impact of HPP. “Without Homeless Prenatal, I wouldn't be here now.” 

A huge thank you to Tipping Point Community for their continued partnership with HPP. Because of them, families just like Shelley’s will continue to have the services and support they need to raise healthy children in a stable home with nurturing relationships.