Women’s and Children’s Services

Uplifting women and children since 1950

At St. Anthony’s, our Franciscan identity guides us in our mission to support every woman on her individual journey toward a stable and thriving life, benefiting not only herself and her children but also our entire community.

Through a range of life-changing services, we walk alongside each woman, providing the necessary support to uplift and empower her.

About

The establishment of St. Anthony Foundation Women’s and Children’s Services was a direct response to an unmet and critical community need.

In San Francisco, an estimated 6,000 women experienced homelessness over the past year – nearly 40% of the total unhoused population. Eighty percent of unsheltered women surveyed across the country reported abuse and/or trauma as the cause of their homelessness.

Women experience homelessness very differently from men. The comprehensive program originated in 2023 after several months of long-term strategic planning, and focuses exclusively on San Francisco’s most vulnerable population, offering trauma support and pathways to permanently exit homelessness.

Building on St. Anthony’s current programs, Women’s and Children’s Services provides easily accessible integrated care all under one roof. Services designed to help families become stable and self-sufficient include primary medical and mental health treatment, job training, computer literacy classes, life management skills with multi-year peer support, and access to childcare and housing through partnerships.

The Program Provides

• Primary and specialty medical care at St. Anthony’s Medical Clinic including behavioral health and pediatric services.
• High quality, like-new clothing from St. Anthony’s Free Clothing Program, the largest of its kind in San Francisco.
• Job training, jobs opportunities, and free computer literacy classes at St. Anthony’s Tech Lab.
• Access to childcare through partnerships.
• Assistance with getting identification, legal documents, translation services, and more.
• Led by our experienced medical team, the multiyear Companionship Program provides a committed companion or peer advisor with lived experience to help women develop critical life management skills to overcome barriers on their road to building stable, thriving lives.