A Beacon of Hope for Families

EOCP has been a beacon of hope for many unhoused people, including families.  A great recent example is Stacy and his daughter who stayed at our Family Matters shelter for eight months while working diligently with their case manager to secure permanent housing and other community supports.

Prior to finding shelter, Stacy and his family had “couch-surfed” at friends’ homes or slept in a car. Stacy’s personal situation was dire as his criminal record prevented him from obtaining a permanent home. Nationwide, rental opportunities are limited for people who have criminal backgrounds despite individuals successfully resolving their issues through our legal system. In Stacy’s situation, even after finalizing his case 25 years ago, the record continued to be an impediment in securing permanent housing. He did not receive the help he or his family needed to fully integrate into the community. He was not able to find housing through nonprofit housing opportunities or government funded programs and had to conduct his search through private property owners.

At Family Matters Stacy demonstrated several positive qualities that were key to his success. Namely, he was proactive and strongly committed to improving his family’s situation. He was laser-focused on finding a permanent home and improving his family’s living conditions. His efforts paid -off last September when they moved into a two-bedroom apartment in East Oakland! He also completed culinary training which he will use to obtain a better paying job. In the meantime, he is working as a barber.

Stacy has an excellent bond with his teenage daughter. He has been her primary caregiver since she was two and half years old, which speaks to his resilience and sense of responsibility. As a single father, he has navigated the complexities that being a single parent entails and has been attentive to her needs. While staying at Family Matters, Stacy spoke to his case manager about his daughter’s self-confidence and worked to connect her with the mental health supports she needs.

Can we count on your continued partnership and steadfast support? Every donation helps keep a dream alive and a family housed.