Stockton Shelter for the Homeless opened a winter shelter for single women this past week. The new low-barrier accommodations is the first of its kind in Stockton.
The shelter has long offered low-barrier beds to men, meaning they don’t have to pass a drug test to check in for the night, as well as separate medium-barrier accommodations for women and families. But Shelter CEO JoLyn McMillan says they have never been able to offer something like this to single women.
“This is the first for the city and for the shelter,” McMillan said.
Women who live in homeless encampments often have to make tough choices to protect themselves, McMillan said.
“Homeless women on the streets frequently have to trade sex for safety,” McMillan said. “They trade sex so they have a safe place to sleep at night and so they don’t get their items stolen or get beat up by other people.” …
Cassie Dickman 