Park ranger Amanda Barrows walks with Ronnie Morrisette and his dog, Joi, in Sutro Heights. Barrows devotes much of her time to cultivating relationships with homeless people in the city's parks with the hope of, eventually, moving them into housing. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Park ranger Amanda Barrows patrols Golden Gate Park, searching for homeless people who will accept her help. The number of unhoused people living in city parks is a tiny fraction of the city’s 8,000-person homeless population, but they are among the most difficult to transition into housing. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
What appears to be a human footprint is seen near a homeless encampment in Golden Gate Park. Barrows has developed a keen eye for detecting where people are illegally camping, hidden by the underbrush.. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Park ranger Amanda Barrows looks on as Ronnie Morrisette lights up a methamphetamine pipe at his old campsite at Sutro Heights in San Francisco. Morisette has spent more than half of his life living in and around Golden Gate park but as his health has deteriorated, the need from to get him into housing is rugent, In 2023, Barrows intervened to save Morrisette after a nearly fatal dose of fentanyl. Morrisette has been in housing before, but he was kicked out following a fight with a stranger that had been assigned to share his room with him. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Amanda Barrows talks to Kevin Hanson about his badly infected finger. Hanson, who had recently been removed from housing over issues related to his mental health, said he sustained an injury while breaking up a fight between raccoons at his campsite. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Kevin Hanson reacts to a photo of a baby raccoon on park ranger Amanda Barrows’ phone at Golden Gate Park. Hanson, who was recently evicted from his housing, had been living in the park for years. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Kaine is one of Barrows’ success stories. He’d been living in Golden Fate Park for more than 20 years, becoming a fixture in Hellman Hollow despite repeated attempts from law enforcement to remove him. “I was like, clearly this is not working. He rebuilds, he comes back. What we’re doing is harming this person who’s obviously just stuck. So let’s try something else,” Barrows said. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
A tree that once bore fruit, according to Kaine, at Hellman Hollow. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Barrows, driving through the park, makes a call about getting a homeless person a shelter bed. Although Barrows is technically law enforcement, she prefers to cruise around in a low profile park vehicle. Often she’s tasked with the logistical challenges of getting someone housed on top of building relationships with people, which means she’s often the point person to find temporary housing, help people get identifications and get them signed up with the correct social services. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Barrows checks in with Kamal, center, and Tawny on Jan. 24 in Golden Gate Park. Kamal did not respond, prompting Barrows to check his vital signs. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Morrisette and his dog Joi walk through Stern Grove on Jan. 24. Barrows and Morrisette built a bond over long walks through San Francisco’s parks where they would talk about philosophy, throw sticks for Joi and chat about their lives. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Barrows talks to Morrisette about his need to go to the DMV by his car Stern Grove. Barrows helped set up the appointment and told him that the cost would be covered by the city since he was considered low income. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Morrisette tries to jump his car. Previously he had an RV, but it was stolen while he was in the hospital. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Barrows rubs her head after being summoned to a call in a park. “This can be just so exhausting to try to show up fully for so many people every day. And then be a container for all this brokenness.” (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Morrisette lights a methamphetamine pipe in Sutro Heights. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Morrisette and Barrows chat abut their shared interest in photography. Morrisette had recently dropped off the grid for several weeks as he was hospitalized, but he reunited with Barrows by chance. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Joi, Morrisette’s dog, waits in his car. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Kaine holds a walking stick he crafted from a fallen branch in Golden Gate Park. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Kaine holds the keys to his room at the Allen Hotel. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Kaine in his room Jan. 16. Barrows continues to work with him to ensure he doesn't lose the benefits that cover his rent. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Kaine holds out heart shaped leaves in Hellman Hollow. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)