FESCO

In collaboration with Be a Mentor, Inc.

Moving Homeless Families to Self-Sufficiency
FESCO helps homeless families move toward self-sufficiency. We provide emergency shelter, transitional housing, nutrition, case management, mental health counseling, life skills classes, budgeting and savings programs, housing placement assistance, and job skills development for homeless families with minor children.

What about these kids?

No child should ever be homeless
There are over 1500 chronically homeless children in Alameda County
Families should be able to stay together during crisis and homelessness
FESCO Shelters for Families and Children include two parent families, Dads with children, and families with teenage boys

What can you do?
As a mentor you can play a significant role in the life of a FESCO youth by:

Encouraging them to continue focusing on school
Showing them by example that there are positive, worthwhile goals to achieve
Encouraging them to dream and to know that dreams can be fulfilled
Helping them to make good choices and to understand that their lives are the consequences of those choices
Expanding their experiences beyond their own neighborhood
Being a supportive friend

How does it work?
Mentors are matched one-to-one with a student. Mentors and mentees meet after school and/or on weekends and spend 4 to 6 hours per month. Mentors provide support, friendship and the motivation for the student to get ahead in school and overcome personal and social barriers to success. Together they explore higher education and career opportunities, see the real world applications for what is learned in school, and have fun together doing social activities.

A mentor shares his/her life experiences and wisdom with the student helping the student make positive choices. The mentor is always there to encourage the student and to listen.

Martha Trigueros at (510) 886-5473 or email at mtrigueros@fescofamilyshelter.org