Urge your Assemblymember to vote yes on AB 1880 and support the PINK Alert. This bill creates a coordinated alert when emergency services encounter a homeless pregnant woman in need of shelter or medical care, helping connect her to support quickly. 

5,000 pregnant women live on the streets of LA County alone, and up to 48% of homeless women experience pregnancy. Homeless pregnant women face serious risks, including lack of shelter, limited prenatal care, domestic violence, and poor birth outcomes. Tragically, in shelters throughout California, priority housing is not given to homeless pregnant women until they are at least 7 months pregnant. To add insult to injury, these mothers often have their infants removed and placed in foster care solely because of the mother’s homelessness. But it doesn’t have to stay this way.

Often, compassionate members of the public want to help but do not know where to refer these mothers. Prioritizing housing and medical care for homeless pregnant women protects vulnerable mothers and children during a critical time, and it ensures the public knows how to help these mothers.