Families with children, many of whom are headed by a single mother, are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. Guided by Leininger's Culture Care Theory and the ethnonursing research method, the purpose of this study was to discover the care meanings and expressions for a group of 12 Appalachian mothers living with their children in an urban homeless shelter. Reflected in each mother's words and embedded within the 3 universal themes that emerged was the need to be treated with human dignity and respect. This need was seen as vital to the health and well being of these families.