ForeclosureForcesFamilytoRefocusGoals
doorwhenalltheiroptionswereexhausted.Moving
SarahandMike
intoshelterisnoteasy‐losingprivacyandpersonal
workedhardalltheir
life.Sarahheldtwo
jobs;onefulltime,and
theotherparttimeto
payforthechildren’s
daycare.Mikeworked
longhoursin
construction.Combined,theyearnedjustenoughto
makeendsmeet.Theyworkedoffofaverystrict
budgetthatleftnoroomforemergenciesorunplanned
expense,consequentlytheirworldfellapartwhenthey
losttheirhousing.
Thehometheyhadbeenrenting,thehometheyhad
beenlivinginsincetheir irstchildwasborn12years
ago,wasbeingforeclosed.Theyweredevastatedand
shockedto indtherentalmarketsooutofreach.They
wereunableto indanyaffordableoptions.Sarahand
Mikeandtheirthreechildrenspentsometimebunking
withfriends,andrelatives,theninahotel.
Beinghomelesswassoexpensive,andtheyquicklyran
outofwhatlittlesavingstheyhad.Theyknockedonour
space.Sarahremainedpositiveandupbeatthroughout.
Sheneverletherselforherfamilybecomediscouraged.
Shetookadvantageofeveryworkshopoffered,enrolled
herchildrenineveryenrichingactivitySanJoseFamily
Shelterprovided,andmadeabsolutelycertainthather
familyatedinnertogetherEVERYnight.
WithSarahandMike’scombinedincome,theyquali ied
forourTransitionalHousingProgramandwereplaced
onourwaitlist.Soon,aspotbecameavailableandthey
wereacceptedintotheprogram.Theyfoundan
apartmentthatwasclosetotheirschoolsanddaycare,
andmovedinintimetocelebrateChristmasintheir
newhome.
“You’vegottostayfocused…”‐Sarah
Sarahoffersthisadviceforallthosestrugglingtomake
endsmeet,“You’vegottostayfocusedanddowhatyou
needtodo.Youcan’twaitforsomeonetodoitforyou.
And,acceptthehelpand“handup”fromwonderful
organizationslikeFamilySupportiveHousing.”
ASoup‐erGreatEveningRaisedAlmost$100,000
InNovemberwecelebratedSoup’sOn!,Family
SupportiveHousing’s28thAnnualSoupKitchen
Dinner.Morethan250guestsjoinedusforthisgala
eventatBellarmineCollegePreparatory.Soup’sOn!
raisedalmost$100,000tohelpfundoursupportive
servicesandcasemanagementforhomelessfamilies
inourSanJoseFamilyShelterandBridgesAfterCare
programs.
Attheevent,Marcus,aformerSanJoseFamilyShelter
resident,sharedtheinspiringstoryofhowhisfamily
overcamehomelessness,withthehelpofFamily
SupportiveHousing’sprogramsandservices.
Pictured:Marcus,Janaeandtheirson
Thankyoutoallofthesponsors,patrons,donorsand
volunteerswhomadeSoup’sOn!asuccess.Hundredsof eventforthepast10years.ThiswasDick’slasttime
familieswillbene itfromyourgeneroussupport!
servingasauctioneer,andwewillmisshim!
AbigThankyoutoDickPfaff,whohasauctioneeredthis WehopetoseeallofyouatSoupKitchenDinner2015!
FAMILIES MATTER
Winter 2015
From the Executive Director
DearFriends,
OneofthewaysthatIcontinuetolearnandgrowinmyroleasExecutiveDirectorofFamily
SupportiveHousingisthroughmeetingwithleadersofotherBayAreasocialserviceagenciesto
sharestoriesaboutwhatwearelearningandaccomplishing,andhowwearemeetingbothnew
andchronicchallenges.
Executive Board
Regan Senkarik
Board Chair
Brian Martin
Vice President
Laurie Kelm
Treasurer
Michael Kovacs
Secretary
IcomeawayfromthosemeetingsenergizedbythesharedcommitmentthatI indtobreaking
downbarriersonbehalfofchildren,youthandadultsinneed.Icomeawayinspiredbythe
relentlesscreativity–orcreativerelentlessness–withwhichouragencieskeepworkingtoachieve
real,lastingchangefortheclientsweserve.
Board of Directors
Steve Becerra
Nick Kepler
Bruce Noel
Stacey Hendler Ross
Vijay Sammeta
Dave Smith
Often,Icomeawaywithexcitingnewideasaboutpeer‐to‐peerlearning,orusingvideo,or
incentivizingsavings.
Always,Icomeawayaskingmyselfonefundamentalquestion:IsFamilySupportiveHousing
ful illingourmissiontoempowerfamiliestomovefromhomelessnesstoself‐suf iciencyinour
communityinthemosteffectivepossibleway?
Executive Director
Beth Leary
Advisory Board
Mari Mineta Clapp
Rigo Chacon
Diane Cristina
Rich Cristina
Pat Dando
William Del Biaggio Jr.
Mary Ellen Fox
Michael E. Fox Sr.
Bert George
Carl Guardino
Kathy Imwalle
Ann Lindahl
Clare McDermott
John Neece
Father Paul Sheridan
Thisyear,FSHwillexaminethatcorequestioninasystematicway.Our2015StrategicPlanning
processwillengagemembersofFSH’sBoardandstaff,ourprogrampartners,fundersand,of
course,clientfamilies,toevaluateourprogramquality,organizationaleffectiveness,andoutcomes.
Wewilllookatcriticalsuccessfactorsforthefuture,andhowFSHcanremaineffectiveina
changingpolitical,economicandpolicyenvironment.
Ifthatsoundslikealotofwork,itwillbe!ButastheSanFrancisco‐basedMulagoFoundation
rightlynotes,“Everyonebene itsfromarigorouslookatimpact:thedoers,thefunders,thesocial
sectoritself,andmostimportantly,thosewhoarehopingforabrighterdayahead.”
I’llsharemoreaboutourStrategicPlanningprocessand indingsinthemonthsahead.Iinviteand
welcomeyourfeedback.
Thankyoutoallofyou,whoshareyourtimeandresourcestohelpusbringthatbrighterdayto
familieswhoareexperiencinghomelessness.Together,wecanachievearealandlastingimpact,
daybyday,andfamilybyfamily.
Sincerely,
Beth Leary
Executive Director
SanminaTeesUpSupportforFSH
Forthelast iveyears,Sanmina,aFortune500CompanyheadquarteredinSanJose,
hashostedagolftournamenttoraisemoneyforFamilySupportiveHousing.Aleaderin
theElectronicManufacturingServicesindustry,Sanminaisstronglycommittedtosupportinglocalfamiliesinneed.
TheOctober2014SanminaGolfClassicraisedover$80,000forFamilySupportiveHousing’sprograms!Thankyou
toalloftheSanminaparticipantswhocontinuetomakethiseventsuchasuccess!
NewLookforHomeworkEnrichmentProgram
ThankstoFirstTechFederalCreditUnion’sgenerousdonationthroughitsDecemberSeason
Pictured:HEP
Classroom
ofGivingCampaign,ourHomeworkEnrichmentProgram(HEP)nowhasnewclassroomtables
anddesksthatgiveourHEPteachersandvolunteers lexibilitytorecon iguretheclassroomas
neededtocreateanengagingandcollaborativelearningenvironment.HEPprovidesacademic
support,targetedskilldevelopmentandenrichmentactivitiestoover150childrenandyouth
eachyear.ThanksFirstTechFederalCreditUnionforsupportingoureffortstokeepyoung
studentsengagedandontrackforsuccess!
FAMILIES MATTER
Winter 2015
GrowingSkillsintheGarden
LastFall,weinauguratedourhands‐onGarden
EducationProgram,aspartoftheHealthyEating,
HealthyLivinginitiativeatourSanJoseFamilyShelter.
Thisprogrammakesgardening,nutrition,andcooking
funandeducationalforfamiliesstayingatourshelter.
Participantslearnhowtocreateacontainergardenand
buildnewskillsinproducingandpreparingfresh,
nutritiousandaffordablefood.Nutritioniskeytoschool
andworkperformance.HealthyEating,HealthyLiving
providesinformationandsupporttohelpfamilies
becomeandremainhealthyandactive.
Pictured:Vegetable
Christmastree
WithsupportfromTheHealth
Trust,SharksFoundationand
AdobeFoundation,wewere
abletohireourfull‐timeGarden
Educator,Erin,throughthe
AmeriCorpsprogram.Erinuses
ourthird looroutdoormicro‐
gardentodeliverentertaining
andeducationalactivitiesforkids
andparentsonhowto
incorporatehealthyfoodsinto
theirdailyroutine.Erinbelieves
that“teachingfamiliestoeat
healthyisempowering
themtotakechargeof
theirlivesandbuilda
strongerfuture.”
OneofErin’sfavorite
recentactivitiesforthe
childrenwasthe
“VegetableChristmas
Tree.”Thechildrenmadea
Christmastreeoutof
broccolianddecoratedit
withcarrotsand
pomegranateseeds.Once
thetreewasassembled,
thekidshadatonoffun
disassemblingthetreeby
eatingeverypiece!
Pictured:Childpartakingin
gardeneducation
Whiletheprogramisstillinitsinitialphase,itisalready
asuccess.Wehaveseenchildrenstarttheprogram
hatingvegetables,andafterthreemonths,theythink
thatvegetablesareyummy!Ourgardeneducatoralso
workswithparents,toensurethattheirchildren
continuetoincreasetheirvegetableconsumptionafter
leavingourshelter.
GenerousCommunityGivestheGiftofHope
E
achyearinmid‐December,ourSanJoseFamily
Shelter’sparkinggaragetransformsintoamagical
“ChristmasShoppe,”wherefamiliesstayingatour
sheltercanchooseholidaygiftsforoneanotherand
evenhavethemwrapped!EveryitemintheShoppeis
contributedbybusinesses,churches,schoolgroups,and
othersupportersofFamilySupportiveHousing.
Throughouttheholidayseason,donationsofclothing,
toys,books,sportsequipmentandelectronicspour
throughourdoors.
SettinguptheChristmasShoppeisajobinitself.
VolunteergroupsfromeBayandDellcametoour
Pictured:SomeoftheChristmasShoppevolunteers
shelterdaysbeforetheshopopenedtogetitready,
organizingclothingbysizeandtoysbyagegroup,to
makeiteasyforparentsto indthatperfectpresent.On OnthefollowingMonday,itwaskids’turnto“shop”!
TheAssistanceLeagueofSanJosehelpedchildrento
theSaturdaymorningwhentheShoppeopened,
pickoutandwrappresentsfortheirparents.Yahoo!
volunteer“elves”assistedparentswiththeirselections.
employeesvolunteeredtosetupartsandcrafts.
“Everydayweempowerhomelessfamilies,andthe
FamilySupportiveHousingisthankfulforthe
ChristmasShoppeisnodifferent,”saidCommunity
volunteersandcommunitypartnerswhohelpedto
ResourceManagerChristi‐MoyerKelly.“Eventhough
theseparentsareexperiencinghomelessness,theycan makeChristmasShoppeaspecialeventonceagainfor
ourfamilies.
stillgivetheirchildrenamagicalholidayseason."
FAMILIES MATTER
Winter 2015
DONATE
TODAY!
NONPROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
PAID
SAN JOSE, CA
PERMIT NO. 1560
San Jose Family Shelter
GlennArt Arms Transitional
Housing
Bridges AfterCare
692 N. King Road
San Jose, CA 95133
Tel: (408) 926-8885
Fax: (408)254-2056
Like Family Supportive Housing
Follow @SJFamilyShelter
TWOExcitingEventsThisMay–SpreadtheWord!
Visitourwebsiteformoredetails:www.familysupportivehousing.org.
SVGives,May5,2015
Toast2Success,May30,2015
GetThatGIVINGFeeling!SiliconValley
CommunityFoundationwillbehostingtheir
secondannual24‐houronlinefundraisingevent,
SVGives,onMay5,2015from12:00am‐11:59pm!
StaytunedtoourFacebookpageandwebsitefor
excitingoffersandmatchingopportunities.
Longtimefriendandformerresident,JamesJones,
andhiswifeTamikaJones,willbehostingtheir ifth
annualToast2Success,bene itingFamilySupportive
HousingandtheLoveJones4KidsFoundation.Come
showyoursupport,andtoasttothesuccessofallthe
familiesthatachievedself‐suf iciency!
When:May30,2015
Time:6:00‐9:00pm
Where:TheFairmontSanJose
170S.MarketSt.
SanJose,CA95113
Bene iting:FamilySupportive
Housing&LoveJones4Kids
TicketsgoonsaleApril1st
Our Mission
ToprovideshelterandsupportiveservicestohomelessfamiliesinSantaClaraCounty,
toempowerthemtomovefromhomelessnesstoself‐suf iciencyinourcommunity.
www.familysupportivehousing.org