Fiona Gubelmann as Lori (season 1): Penelope 's co-worker. Ariela Barer as Carmen (season 1): Elena 's best friend. She spent nights with Elena in her bedroom after her parents were deported back to Mexico, but Penelope finds out. She later moves to Austin, Texas to live with her brothers. Froy Gutierrez as Josh Flores (season 1) Eric Nenninger as Scott (season 1 -- present): Penelope 's co-worker. Haneefah Wood as Jill Riley (season 1 -- present): Penelope 's friend. Mackenzie Phillips as Pam Valentine (season 1 -- present): the leader of Penelope 's female veteran therapy group. Judy Reyes as Ramona (season 1 -- present): Penelope 's friend from the therapy group. Tony Plana as Berto Riera (season 1 -- present): Lydia 's late husband. James Martínez as Victor Alvarez (season 1 -- present): Penelope 's ex-husband. Ed Quinn as Max Ferraro (season 2): a military veteran, EMT, and Penelope 's ex-boyfriend Sheridan Pierce as Syd (season 2 -- present): Elena 's girlfriend who is non-binary. Raúl Castillo as Mateo (season 3): Penelope 's friend from school who is also a parent
who plays the dad on one day at a time
James Martínez