Who We Are
Shelter & services to create stable homes for families

The Family Emergency Shelter Coalition (FESCO) is an Alameda County nonprofit organization dedicated to helping homeless families move to self-sufficiency.

We are a coalition of 23 local churches and community members. We are the only shelter in our area that enables families with fathers and teenage sons to stay together during a crisis of homelessness. We serve 80 families per year, most of whom move to permanent housing after their stay. Two-thirds of our residents are children.

 

Our team members have worked to successfully help connect people to housing for over 35 years and many of them have personally experienced homelessness, either directly or within their families. This creates a space where you can get what you need and begin to replace fear and uncertainty with hope for the future.

Our Mission

Family Emergency Shelter Coalition (FESCO) is on a mission to support homeless families, with the support of the community, as they move from crisis to stability, end their homelessness, and find a place called home.

Our Core Beliefs

In the execution of its mission, FESCO is motivated by the following core beliefs:

  • Communities have a responsibility to ensure that every child has a safe and decent place to live and sufficient nutrition to thrive.
  • Self-reliance creates self-respect, which strengthens families, individuals, and communities.
  • All people, regardless of their circumstances, deserve to be treated with respect, fairness, dignity.
  • Accountability is fundamental to the success of the people we serve and our organization.

Our values

Belonging

We help those around us feel important, connected, and confident in a community of hope. This sense of belonging is rooted in compassion and respect for shared cultures, values, and lived experiences.

Social Justice

We amplify the voices of our community to fight for systems, policies, opportunities, and services that promote social and economic justice and improve the quality of life for all.

Self-Determination

We help people recognize and build on their talents, strengths, and goals to enhance their self-determination, leadership, and power.

Partnership

We engaged in meaningful partnerships with organizations, communities, and the people we serve.

Integrity

We hold ourselves to the highest standards of respect, truthfulness, follow through, and accountability. As a result, we achieve measurable results for the people and communities we serve.

Our History

FESCO was founded in 1986 by a passionate coalition of everyday people just like you. These community members/churches banded together to address their concerns about the growing number of families falling into homelessness in Mid-Alameda County. In its founding documents, special emphasis was placed on keeping families together during their period of homelessness. Thus, in addition to serving single mothers with children, your support helps us to serve single fathers, two-parent families with children, and families that include a teenage boy.


FESCO is currently comprised of over 22 churches/community members in Mid-Alameda County, most located/living/working in Hayward. Your impact allows FESCO to provide low/extremely low-income homeless families with food, emergency, transitional, permanent housing, and supportive services in furtherance of its mission to move these families toward self-sufficiency.

Our Leadership

Aaron Ortiz
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Sarah Voit
Program Director
Jennifer Ellis
Chief Strategy Officer
Stephanie Miller
Development MANAGER

Our Board of Directors

Agustin Arteaga Jr., MPA-HCA

Board Chair
Manager Public Works Coordinator
AT&T

René F. Macias, MS-HCA

Board Secretary
Health Services Manager
Eastmont Wellness Center HEAL Alameda Health System

Elgin Lowe

Senior Deputy District Attorney
Alameda County District Attorney's Office

Gabriel A. Arteaga, Ed.D.

Director
American Association of State Colleges and Universities
The Democracy Commitment

Manuel Jimenez, LMFT

Retired Director
Alameda County Behavioral Health

Eleanor Dwyer, LCSW

Retired County Administrator
San Mateo County

The Friends of FESCO who help us

Hayward City

 Gloria Santiago

Castro Valley City

Robyn Woidtke

Castro Valley City

Aaron Dahlstedt

Beverly Dahlstedt

San Leandro City

Pastor William Chou

wchou915@gmail.com

Hayward City

Darla Fisher

Castro Valley City

Pamela Lowe (Vice Chair)

sillymothra@yahoo.com

Hayward City

Rev. Sharon Luther 

sharon.luther@comcast.net

Hayward City

Sherry Mattson

mattsonsherry@yahoo.com

Castro Valley City

Christine Ippolito (Community Support Chair)

christineippolito@comcast.net

Hayward City

Bob Peppler (President)
Gail Stringer (Secretary)
Rev. Rochelle Frazier

Church Office: 510-780-9599

Hayward City

Kathryn LaMar

dulciphile@yahoo.com

Castro Valley City

Janet Alfaro

Nancy Robles

Rev. Dr. Shijung Shim

janalfaro@hotmail.com

510-581-3486
pastorshijung@castrovalleyumc.org