"Patti's Tough Night"
Patti Mendez says she was bruised from taking a fall
the night before, but her husband has been arrested previously for beating
her up on the streets. She manages a small smile while at her encampment on
Market Street in San Francisco.
Summary:
Beneath the civility of the modern American city lies
a portion of the population lost in despair: the homeless women. They are the
mothers, the daughters and sisters who struggle for their dignity. Heroin,
crack cocaine, mental illness and lost love are their companions. In San
Francisco, where the cost of living is outlandish, some outreach workers say
the numbers of homeless women are actually increasing. Although they may find
temporary shelter, many end up back outside. These are the lives of a dozen
women who call San Francisco streets their home, an unspeakable life in one
of the most civilized cities in the world.
