The Struggle for Power: Voices from San Francisco’s Unhoused Community

Access to power is often overlooked, yet for individuals experiencing homelessness, it’s a daily struggle that can mean the difference between connection and isolation. We've partnered with Harm Reduction Therapy again, to provide solar-powered solutions to those in need across San Francisco.

At both their drop-in center and mobile sites, Harm Reduction Therapy recently distributed our Chandler Chargers to help their clients overcome one of the most persistent barriers–staying connected. 
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Our partner’s shared testimonies and anecdotes shine a light on the difficulties of finding a stable charge for unhoused individuals, in addition to finding other basic needs. ​

Marsha Davison, an Associate Clinical Social Worker at Harm Reduction Therapy, shares:
“Being homeless in San Francisco means searching for places to bathe, searching for places to wash your clothes, and searching for places to charge your phone. A lot of people in the homeless community rely on their phones to access resources like shelter beds and case management, so a dead cell phone is a dead end and a barrier to accomplishing your goals.”

With San Francisco’s intensified sweeps and displacement, access to power has become even more restricted. One Harm Reduction Therapy client shared:
“I haven’t been able to find a place to fully charge my phone since the sweeps intensified, so I missed a couple of appointments because my phone keeps dying after a couple of hours. The solar chargers are a lifesaver.”

In today’s world, most support services require a phone or internet access. James, a Harm Reduction Therapy team member, explains:
“Many of the critical services our clients need can only be accessed via phone or online. This makes having an accessible source of power a huge help for our unhoused community.” 
The ability to keep a phone charged may seem small, but for those living without stable shelter or resources, it provides a bridge to security, access, and opportunity for resilience. Through partnerships like this, we continue to work towards lighting the way for those in need. 

​Want to help make a difference? Donate to Unite to Light today and select “Homelessness” at checkout to support our work! ​

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Let’s change the world one light and one life at a time.