HF Voices: Sabrina Lawrence, Case Manager at the Hamilton Families Shelter
Sabrina Lawrence at the Hamilton Families Shelter located at 260 Golden Gate Avenue in the Tenderloin. March 7, 2024.
It All Comes Full Circle
Hamilton Families’ Sabrina Lawrence shares her journey from experiencing homelessness as a child in San Francisco to becoming a case manager on the front lines working to end family homelessness in her hometown.
I first learned of Sabrina’s remarkable story when she shared some pictures and inspiring words in the Hamilton Families Staff Monday Briefing on Monday, March 4, 2024. For the past seven years, Sabrina has been serving families at the Hamilton Families Shelter in the Tenderloin, first as a Residential Counselor, and now as a Family Case Manager. We sat down for an interview at the Shelter where she shared more about her journey growing up in San Francisco, her experience of homelessness as a child, how her mother’s resilience and positivity shines through her to this day, and how her upbringing influence her daily work helping families move beyond homelessness.
Jeff Briz: Tell me about your upbringing, where did you grow up?
Sabrina Lawrence: I was born and raised here in San Francisco. I lived everywhere from the Fillmore/Western Addition, to Hayes Valley, to the Mission/Potrero Hill. It was a split household. During the beginning of my childhood, I lived with my dad. The rest of my childhood was spent with my mom.
Jeff: What inspired you to work in social services?
Sabrina: I always loved helping people. I believe that it is my God-given purpose to be in the field of social work. My parents influenced me to be kind and empathetic to people who cross my path. My dad was in the military, and he always had that kind of heart where he enjoyed helping others. My mom had an aura that was felt when people were around her. Her smile and laugh were so infectious! Even though she lived a rough life, she smiled and laughed her way through it.
Jeff: I can tell from your feature in the Monday Briefing that your mom was a major influence on you. How does her influence show up in your work helping families here at the Shelter?
Sabrina: Well, I was homeless at one point as a child, and I use that experience as motivation when working with families. I do my very best to help our families because I know what they’re going through. I can relate to them. So, for me, working here is pretty much life coming full circle. It felt like destiny.
Sabrina (right) with her mother (left).
Jeff: Wow, I never knew that about you!
Sabrina: Yeah, but I never lived in a homeless shelter. When my mom and I were experiencing homelessness, we were evicted from an apartment and couch-surfed with my mom’s friends. It was my first time being homeless at three years old. I was also homeless with my dad. My dad and I lived in a car for about a year when I was in pre-school. We finally became stable once I began first grade. After I graduated from elementary school, I lived with my mom again until she passed away in 2015. She managed to obtain employment and housing before I started 6th grade.
Jeff: Holy smokes, this work really does come full circle for you.
Sabrina: Definitely. My mom is my biggest inspiration. We were homeless together, and I witnessed her positivity in everything. Her strength and courage were the foundation of our bond. That’s what I mean when I tell people we turned pain into power. We both struggled; it’s just that I didn’t know how extreme it was at the time because I was little, you know? Both of my parents ensured that my life was as “normal” as possible. I still felt an incredible amount of love throughout my upbringing. One of my greatest superpowers is bringing joy to others. My mom instilled in me the importance of finding the light through every moment of darkness. I do it personally and professionally.
Jeff: So, the mural on our new building in the Mission is titled, “Home is When We’re Together.” It sounds like that rings true for your experience growing up?
Sabrina: Oh definitely.
“Home is When We’re Together” created by San Francisco muralist, Eli Lippert. Picture taken at Hamilton Families’ new home at 2567 Mission Street.
Jeff: As someone who is working on the ground floor every single day responding to our city’s homelessness crisis, and even has lived experience of homelessness as a child right here in this community, what do you want people to know about family homelessness?
Sabrina: I want people to know that families don’t choose to be homeless. There is usually some circumstance causing them to become unhoused. Maybe a parent lost their job or they’re grieving the loss of a loved one. Many events can break them down not only emotionally, but mentally and physically. No family just chooses to live in poverty.
Jeff: What do you see is your role when working with families?
Sabrina: I see myself as their cheerleader. Ultimately, it’s each family’s journey, and they must want a better outcome. I can’t want it for them. My job is to support them, connect them to the right resources, and encourage them along the way. In 2017 a staff member named me “The Sunshine of Hamilton Shelter”. It has stuck with me ever since. That sunshine is what my mom was for me. She shines through me every day, and she shines through my work.
Jeff: In your opinion, what steps do we need to take to really make a dent in ending family homelessness in the San Francisco Bay Area?
Sabrina: Affordability. Housing is so expensive in San Francisco. As rent increases faster than wages, it’s understandable why many families become unhoused and need resources. Even if you don’t have children, it’s a fight that doesn’t end. We must find a way to make the cost of living more affordable in the city. We also need more affordable housing for families and single adults like me.
###
Sabrina Lawrence is a Case Manager at the Hamilton Families Shelter which provides emergency shelter, case management, and supportive services to over 100 households with children each year. Visit hamiltonfamilies.org/shelter to learn more.
Jeff Briz is the Director of Communications for Hamilton Families, a nonprofit service provider to families experiencing homelessness in the San Francisco Bay Area. To help end family homelessness, visit hamiltonfamilies.org today.