It's 3:00 a.m. No way to sleep. Imaginary bedbugs chewing at me. The air is oppressive, like being buried alive. The cries of asthmatic children sniffling, screaming, sleep-talking keeps me on edge. In semi-darkness I wander among the beds, seeing mothers wrapped around their babies, like bears in hibernation. In one lower bunk, I find an exhausted mother, Pam, rocking her wailing week-old daughter. Pams face glows with inner peace. She is one of the lucky ones. She escaped an abusive relationship and found shelter here. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago. 1999

"It's 3:00 a.m. No way to sleep. Imaginary bedbugs chewing at me. The air is oppressive, like being buried alive." This evocative caption by Donna Ferrato sets the scene for her 1999 black and white photograph, depicting a woman named Pam holding her week-old daughter at the Olive Branch Mission in Chicago. The photograph captures the stark reality of life in a shelter, with the cramped, dimly lit bunk beds and the exhausted faces of the mothers. Despite the harsh conditions, Pam's face radiates a sense of peace as she cradles her child, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the despair. This powerful image, a testament to Ferrato's dedication to documenting social issues, serves as a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by vulnerable families seeking refuge.