ONE BAY AREA WOMAN’S FIGHT TO KEEP FAMILIES HOUSED
A mile from the richest neighborhood in America, a nun battles to keep tenants who can’t pay rent.
February 23, 2021
For tenants at St. Francis Center who have lost their jobs and can’t pay rent, Sister Christina Heltsley is the woman keeping them housed through the pandemic. But after waging a battle mostly by herself since March, raising emergency funds and signing checks to families, the center’s bills are reaching a dangerous level.
Now, Heltsley, who goes by Sister Christina, is the one asking for help. This month, she launched a fundraising campaign to make up for the $230,000 her tenants owe in rent.
“They live paycheck to paycheck, but they pay their rent when it’s not a pandemic,” said Sister Christina. “This time, the assistor needs some assistance.”
