A Safe Place for Women in San Francisco

Twenty-five years ago, a dream was realized when San Francisco SafeHouse became a reality. Sister Rosina Conrotto and the Sisters of the Presentation fulfilled a dream entrusted to them by their foundress, Nano Nagle, more than 254 years ago in Cork, Ireland. The other visionary foundress, Rev. Glenda Hope, also fulfilled a long-held desire she had after working in the Tenderloin with unhoused
and sexually exploited women. The two women established SafeHouse in 1998 in response to increasing violence against women on the streets of San Francisco.
 

Foundresses Rev. Glenda Hope (left) and Sr. Rosina Conrotto

Safehouse is a nurturing and empowering living community for unhoused women who have survived sexual exploitation, prostitution, and/or sex trafficking. They are ten strong women who want to escape violence, brutality, and life on the street. During her stay of up to 18 months, each woman receives clothing, food, shelter, therapy, and supportive services. She is offered intensive case management and access to resources to heal the mind, body, and soul.

Since the house opened, the Sisters of the Presentation have volunteered teaching E.S.L. classes, doing art therapy, writing thank you cards for donors, sorting clothes, giving massages to the women, taking them on outings, and teaching cooking and gardening skills.

Sister Sylvia Llerena has volunteered at the site for 20 years, greeting guests, taking women on outings, and teaching ESL and art therapy. She noted that “At first the women were reluctant to do the art projects, but in time it became a beloved Monday night activity. The art facilitated relationships among residents, as well as providing self-confidence and affirmation. My teaching experience was very helpful.”

The Sisters living in the Motherhouse made Welcome Baskets and name posters for the rooms of new arrivals. For holidays, all the women are touched by the letters, cards and treats the Sisters give them. At Easter the Sisters fill baskets full of treats, gift cards, and toiletries. The women can always count on the Sisters’ prayers for them. These and other activities the Sisters do because of their commitment to the women.

This commitment has included numerous grants to SafeHouse to pay for a three-day annual clinical retreat to Walker Creek Ranch; art supplies for art therapy; and weekly group counseling and healing activities for unhoused women on the SafeHouse waiting list. Many of the women have been grateful for the Tooth Fairy Fund for dental visits.

When asked for a recommendation on how anyone can make a difference in the lives of women in this situation, Sister Sylvia said, “Greet people on the street as the beautiful people they are inside, no matter their outward appearance. Know there is beauty inside - at Safehouse, we see it. Treat the unhoused people with respect, because that doesn’t happen all the time.”

The SafeHouse women are very grateful for all the years of love and support that the Sisters of the Presentation have lavished on them. Likewise, the Sisters have been blessed by meeting and being with the brave and beautiful women of SafeHouse.

Visit the SafeHouse website to learn more: sfsafehouse.org