FESCO

I lived here about 18 years ago with my mom dad sister and baby brother. I think about this place all the time I remember how warm I felt inside having a warm place to stay with my family all together. The community and staff that worked there felt like such a family to me I remember having a Christmas event and getting gifts by Santa and I remember thanksgiving dinners at a large table with all the families . They got my siblings and I to see a counselor to relieve our feelings. It was a great experience given the circumstances I’m so glad they are still around helping families like mine to get on their feet. Thank you FESCO I will never forget you.

Larissa Elizondo really saved my families life. We had nothing, and I mean nothing! She helped us get clothes, got my kids back in school and even helped me find a job after only 3 weeks of staying there. The staff is amazing, they work so hard to make sure that people have a chance to succeed if they put in the work to get there.

I can't say enough about her, Evelyn, Kori, Mr. Clarence and crew... They really did save our lives and we are forever grateful!

I heard that FESCO use to be a good place, well it has not been since Carla Bell and Larrisa Elizondo have been really messing up families lives. I was promised so much by Carla all lies and Larrisa does not know how to do her job. She has no help for homeless families, but just hides never answers her phone or keeps appointment. My family and I were doing okay at Banyan House until I was moved and never had case manager never got any help and they put my things on the street and sent me and my children to the street. FESCO and all of the people that now work there are terrible people. Carla Bell is a thief that took gift cards donated for our children to get school clothes, and larrisa drinks so much she just h ides and is scared for her job, it is too badd that this happened under the watch of Cate Stean too insensitive to care anyway

I'm a single mother who had NOTHING and started giving up hope on everyone and everything that was going on in my LIFE and to make matters worse I became homeless. we had moved into FESCO SHELTER and I thought that maybe this was a place that wasn't going to help me out with the things that i needed help with but BOYYYYYYYYYYYYY was I WRONG!!! I went from having NOTHING to having SOMETHING (MORE THEN I WOULD EVER IMAGINE)...I'm about to get into permanent housing a place for MY KIDS & I to call home. (NO MORE HOUSE HOPING FOR US...) I can honestly say that I am truly blessed to have stayed at FESCO. FESCO is the reason why I able to SUCCEED in life. To all FESCO staff members (ESP. SARAH ) you ALLLLLLL are the BOMB.COM that's including the SHELTER PROGRAM COORDINATOR (LARISSA E.). being at FESCO makes me feel like...I WAS BLESSED WITH THE BEST SHELTER & I'M TO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED...I OFFICIALLY LOVE MY LIFE AND EVERYONE IN IT...I've closed the doors to all the dark days that I've had in life and now I am facing a stable and bright future...MORE POWER TO FESCO SHELTER...

I am a single mother with three children and we are only one of the many familys who has experienced loosing our home and becoming homeless. Being in a shelter was something i never expected to have to go through. I was dissapointed and embarrased of my situation, but after meeting the other people here at FESCO, I learned that they were just the same as me. Just because I was homeless didn't make me any less of a person and it's okay to ask for help when you need it. FESCO has helped me accomplish goals that seemed so out of reach when I first got here, but with their encouragement and guidance my children and I have found housing and are ready to turn a new page in our lives. I can't explain in words how thankful I am to Larissa, Sarah, Evelyn, Naomi, Korri, Mr. Clarence, Dinyal, Theresa, and Carla. We will never forget this journey we took with all of you having our back, Thank you FESCO

I am a mother of three daughter and we were going through a rough time, after leaving my husband and our house because he created the situation. as we were begining to falter in hope FESCO came into our lives and gave us strength and hope and courage in many ways.For example,FESCO provided us with a shelter and food as well as providing our basic needs.The staff were very supportive and they encouraged us to not give up and stay strong.They helped us feel like we were in our own home.FESCO gave us warmth and comfort which allowed us to look forward to and gave us hope to have a better life.We appreciate specially to Respected Larissa and Respected Sarah and Respected Clarance.Thankyou FESCO and more power.

I stayed at the FESCO Hayward house when I was 8 years old. That was almost 20 years ago, and I still remember the wonderful caring treatment my mother and I received. What they do is wonderful and I am so glad they are still serving needy families in the Bay Area.

I came to FESCO at the Banyan House two years ago. My two children and I had been sleeping in our car and then in a very uncomfortable shelter that made us leave at 9am every morning. This made it hard for me to find employment with having to get my children ready and off to school and no time for myself. I was accepted into Banyan House and had my own room. I was able to make use of the resource room to seek employment and get myself ready for interviews. I was able to give my children the warmth and comfort of a home away from home. They were happy at Banyan all of the staff were so nice and helpful. Antoinette helped us to get into housing and in just 8 months we had a permanent place to live and I found a really good job as an administrator for a small but successful company. My family will forever be grateful to all of the people that make Banyan the warm and loving home that it is. It is with the structure and consistency of the House that we got on track in our lives. Thank You FESCO.

Hi I would just like to say thank you FESCO because you helped us so much. When my dad died I didn't know what we were going to do and hearing so many things about shelters I didn't want to put my kids in that kind of position, but we lost the house and didn't have anywhere to go so I called FESCO and told them we were in a motel and didn't know what was going to happen The Hayward Family Shelter part of FESCO took us in and after that everything got better. We followed the rules and the staff was great they helped us get back on our feet. We saved our money and moved out and my son got a job through the youth program which FESCO helped get my son into. FESCO has always been supportive and continue to help us when needed. Each and everyone of the staff members helped us and my hats go off to everyone of them because they do care about people and want to help but you have to do your part too and I get that now and how important team work really is. I see someone on the street that doesn't have anything and I stop and give them what I can because FESCO helped me and I never thought I would be able to help some one else. I appreciate it. I love each and everyone of them I carry them in my heart and take them with me whereve I go. My kids and I enjoyed being a part of FESCO.
So thank you very my FESCO Family, Sarah, Mr. Clarence, Evelyn, Naomi. Thanks to all you guys we have been able to reach self sufficiency, And Larissa is a big part of it, she goes way beyond to help us out!

My name is Hector Maciel and i stay at FESCO shelter. When we first arrived to the shelter everything was clean and organized we were really impressed with how nice the place looked and how comforatable we felt. The staff immediatly helped us and took us to our room were we were going to stay. The room was clean and nice, it had the feeling of being at home. We were so welcomed my kids started to want to play and werent so shy anymore. Within a week of staying at FESCO we were started looking for housing and apply for jobs because the staff were so friendly and eager to help us and so easily to communicate with. This experience has been a good life changing experieance for me, my wife and my kids. We are so happy and very fortunate to be in this program, it has made me very happy and greatful to know that there are people that care and understand how challenging life can get especially when you don't have any place go or who to ask for help. THANK YOU FESCO for all the great work you guys do!

I want to thank FESCO'S BANYAN house for being there for me and my family when I was facing homelessness. I had been incarcerated and lost custody of my children. I was re-unified with my children after I completed a live in drug program, but had to be in a place that was approved by Child Protective Services. I got employment and was renting an apartment in a drug infested area in Oakland. My Child Welfare worker was concerned not only for my children but for me being in that enviornment. I also could not afford the rent anymore and had to leave. My chldren and I were homeless for awhile and my Child welfare worker applied for us at Banyan and we were accepted into the program.The place is wonderful, it is quite and warm and the staff treat us with dignity and caring. Antoinet has applied for housing for us and I pray that we get approved into permanent supportive housing. We would be able to chose our own place in a good neighborhood and be safe and never have to worry about being homeless again. Thanks to all of the wonderful people that keep FESCO open and work so hard to help all of it's clients.

I came to FESCO/ Banyan House from a homeless shelter with my four year old son. I am very grateful to have a nice place that I feel safe in. Staff is very helpful to me. Antonette has been wonderful! She helps me on a daily basis with resources and informative information. She has been a very positive influence to me and my child. I am extremely happy and grateful to be working with Antonette! Thank you :) FESCO for being there for us

The economy has affected all people. I have gone thru two forclosures in two years. This is what brought me to FESCO. Looking for affordable house is hard with out the help of knoweledgeable people. Being at FESCO had given me time to look for a place I can afford. The staff had lots of knoweledgeable information if they did not have answers they took the time to find out what was needed. If I needed someone to talk too they took the time to give me the suport I needed. I was placed in a room with several other people going thru the program. The people I was put with where well screened to where I felt safe being in a room with them. Not having to worry about food or where I was going to lay my head at night gave me plenty of time to think about the things that where important. Getting my child to school and making sure she had a good lunch and support when she needed it. I know I can find the support I need at the Family Emergency Shelter Coalition! Thank You to all the staff! What a pleasure spending time with this organization!

WHEN ME AND MY TWO BOYS STAYED AT FESCO IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST SHELTERS I HAVE EVER STAYED AND GLAD THAT I STAYED THE STAFF WAS VERY NICE AND ALWAYS MADE ME FELL AT HOME . ANYTIME I HAD CONCERNS I MET WITH LARISSA AND EVERYTHING WAS OK I LOVED FESCO AND WOULD REFERRED THIS SHELTTER TO ANYBOBY GOING THROUGH THIS EVEN NOW THAT I'M AN EXRESIDENT I LOVE TO VISIT AND I STILL RECEIVE SERVICES FROM THEM

FESCO gave me the opportunity to have my inmigration paper and now I am able to find a job and provide a permanent house to my daughter. I like Ms. Carla and Ms. Antonnete. Together they helped me to win my independence.

We came from a bad situation and were fortunate to stay at Banyan House and move on to transitional housing at 3rd St. While at Banyan, Antonette, really took the time to work with us and provided us with all the services available. The whole staff at Banyan were helpful. Everyone made us feel comfortable and still continue to help us to this day.

i like anntonet,carla and larisa there awesome and they helped me out a lot,give them a raise.

Hello, My name is Denise Hill... I came to FESCO with my two sons, De'Jon Chew and Joshua Chew... I had no idea what I was in store for, but I tell you, it felt like home the moment I walked into FESCO... I've never been in a situation to where I had no where to turn, but after being laid off my job, and getting evicted for not being able to pay my rent, I had no where to turn. A very dear friend of mine called around and called me back to tell me that FESCO had space and for me to call and set up an interview.... I met with Evelyn and had the face to face 'phone screen' and after that she said I could move in that day....

Larrisa- Larrisa is the FESCO's fearless leader who is an Angel in disquise. So geniune and sweet and easy to approach

Sara- Sara is FESCO's 'go to' person.. Always helpful and informative

Donna- Donna is such a sweetheart... Always so helpful and tentive to your needs and makes AWESOME breakfast like you are at the Hyatt or something.

Clarence- Clarence, Clarence, Clarence... O My Goodness.. That man can COOK! He's a true blessing and so nice.

Evelyn- Evelyn is such a sweetheart... She's very nice and if you are mopping ANYWHERE in the house, you best stay off that floor cause she will let you know you are to wait for it to be dry first! I love her!!!!

Well less than a month went by, and a beautiful spirited person came in to speak with me and at the end of the survey, she said I was awarded a Section 8 Voucher for the Oakland area!!!! WHAT??????? NO WAY!!!!! I was so happy and I couldn't believe it!!!
THANK YOU FESCO! I've met so many great people/ the staff if phenominal and i'm very overprotective of the people that come there, cause they should be honored to be there. HEAVEN on EARTH!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am a single mother of a four year old boy. We were staying with family but had no sense of security, boundries, or structure. It was impossible to guide my child with total chaos around me and had to leave. We entered a shelter for a couple months and was then referred to Banyan Transitional. The first day my son joined me at Banyan he said "Mommy we have our own room, I'm so proud of You!" It made me want to cry and I was happy to enter into a place that gave my child and I a feeling like home. We had our own space and the community acted as a family helping one another. The staff includes Antonette as Case Manager and Kori as assistant case manager. Antonette instantly referred me to programs that can accomodate my situation. I felt secure knowing that she was consistantly working on finding my permanent housing and resources that may help me succeed in my goals. She as well as Kori was very welcoming and kind to my son and I. He knows them as part of the family at"home". This experience was very emotionally ruff but I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to be in a warm, safe environment like Banyan.

I am a single mother of three girls. A ten year old, a nine year old, and one year old. I was going trough a very hard time and didnt really have no where to go . My councelor talk to me about fesco the shelter. I didnt know what to expect and how my kids we're going to react to a new surrondings. I dont think I can never put in words how fesco the shelter made our staying here so comfortable for my kids and I . I have always been in a house where violance has been a part of our everyday living. Coming here has been the first place where my kids had a place where they aren't afraid. I felt like the staff here actually really cared for us. They have been like family to us.My kids and myself find it very hard to leave . They have been there to push me on and they showed me that I can do anything I put my mind on. I dont know what I would of done with out fesco the shelter ,Larissa has been a mentor to me. Every time I felt like giving up and lost hope I came to her . She would motive me to keep trying. Im leaving the shelter a better person a stronger woman a better mother. I have met a lot of people and learned a lot from every one. I am so glad a place like this is around. I want to thank you for giving my girls and myself a violance free inviroment and a place for the first time we can actually from the heart call a home. I know we can't stay here for ever but I cansay that I am very sad to leave but proud that I am leaving here with new friends and to me a new family.

I am a client at FESCO I have been in their shelter and I am now in the transitional house.They are a wonderful organization. The staff are so kind, The volunteers and all of the people who work for FESCO have made my family feel welcomed and have provided a wonderful Christmas for us all. I am so grateful to have theri support and love.

I am a client of FESCO. I completed the program at Banyan and my case manager applied and got me accepted for Linkages 2 yr substidy housing. While at Banyan Transitional the staff was very instrumental in my getting my three children reunitfied from Child Protective Services. They provided Parenting and counseling for my family. They continue to provide support for my family and I, with food boxes, Thanksgiving baskets and Adopt a Family I still have my Case Manager who checks in with me weekly and continues to teach me money mangement and talk me through any stress I am feeling. She always shows care and concern and has great advice and reminds me to look at the solutions. The staff of FESCO give so much of themselves and want nothing from us except for us to succeed. The day I walked into Banyan I felt at home and was overjoyed to have a 2 bedroom unit for myself and my childre. I LOVE FESCO and STAFF and MANAGEMENT. They are wonderful people who myself and my family will always remember with the fondest of memories.

This is all about Fesco, This organisation is not helping any body, they want to show in their records how many families they are taking from shelters in a year, this is a kind of activity to get funds from the churches and communities, they are making families again homeless, just keeping families 3 or 4 months or few families 6 months, they wont show any other place to move out, they just sending out families without genuine reasons, they are fully correpted and only staff members tortures families for money and they need to record the testimonials if the families do not want to share their testimonial they will not help any thing, they did help those who gave good opinion about Fesco, they do not have any courtesy, every family is suffering in the house, if we talk each person in the house they will tell their pains and sufferings, staff will not give any respect to the residents, they behaves very rude to the residents, this is like a hell, we never recommend to any family to come here, there is no humanity here,the staff takes everything to their house food cleaning supplies everything, all kind of donations they takes home, donations also they does not leave for the families.

dear fesco, i just want to thank you and all your wonderful staff for all the love support and help my family received during our stay. during our stay we were able to accomplish many things. our family had undergone a terrible experience but with your facility we were able to get up and back on our feet. with the home cooked meals and activities not only for the kids but parents too we walked away with a stronger out look on our lives. thank you so much the life changing experience. we greatly appreciate all you have done for us. peace and blessings, the huey family travis and deborah huey.

FESCO was a Godsend to my family and I when we first arrived in the Bay area in 1992. We were newcomers and had no place to stay but FESCO provided us with a warm,friendly, positive environment. My husband, 3 kids, and myself were given priceless advice and instruction to get Jobs, our first place(including the furnishing of it), establishing a bank account, and very insightful financial information to assist in budgeting,saving, and establishing and maintaining good credit. FESCO did not stop there. They even contacted us to be placed on a waiting list for affordable housing. Thanks to their input, we were placed in a brand new apartment complex that provided programs to support youth in the community center located on the apartment site!!1 The insight and great advice from the staff and volunteers also helped to motivate our 3 kids to work hard at obtaining a good education. All 3 of our kids have done well. 1 is a graduate of UCBERKELEY, the second is beginning her Senior year at UCBERKELEY. Both attended on academic scholarships. Our last child is currently a senior in high school, an active member of the leadership class, involved in community service and well on his way to obtaining an academic scholarship as well. The study skills and habits that were enforced at FESCO helped them to accomplish a much sought after dream!! To this day, FESCO contacts us yearly to offer school supplies to help our kids to continue to pursue their dream of obtaining a quality education!!! We are forever grateful to FESCO,to Marilyn, Clarence, Pete, to all the FESCO staff and countless volunteers, THANK YOU for your kindness and support!!! This is a great organization for families who really want to make a positive and lasting change so that they too can one day offer the kindness and support they were shown at FESCO!! Please support this organization!!!! They really make a lasting difference.

I was a single mother of 2 boys, a 8yr old and a 6yr old that struggles with Autism, when I first came to Fescos' family shelter. First of all I would like to mention that there were a few shelters that would not take us in because of my sons disability but Fesco was very willing to take us in. The staff was very compassionate and helpful to our family and very understanding of my sons special needs. Although we only stayed for about a month and a half they were informed of an opening into transitional housing in Oakland (where my kids attended school at) and staff did an excellent job of making sure that my family would get into there, even after we had already left Fesco. I was very touched by that because it let me know that they really cared even though we were no longer staying at fesco. We stayed in transitional housing for about 6 months until we finally moved into our own apartment. We have lived in our place for 2yrs now. Fesco continues to assist us around Christmas (which is much needed) and with their back to school events that help me with backpack and back to school supplies, all which are things that I would be unable to do without them. Fesco has been a true Blessing for our family and we have not been homeless since. The staff at Fesco are Genuine caring people. Fesco is the best.

My family entered the Les Marquis Shelter after my father had died and we lost the house that my three children had grown up in. We were on foot and had no where to go. We were welcomed into the shelter and began our journey with this wonderful organization FESCO. After being in the shelter a short time we applied for the transitional house Banyan. We were accepted into this program. The staff are so helpful and encouraging. Yes, there are rules, but they are for our personal growth and the safety of the community. We have lifeskills which I have benefited so much from. I have never had the opportunity to open up and share my hurt, and struggles, The staff is so warm that it makes this easy for me. I have shared many things with staff. I look at the staff and the some of the residents here as my family and friends.

Fesco Family Shelter has been an answer to my prayers. I was crying out to God to pluck me up out of my living situation and place me somewhere where I could be happy and raise my children. I could not move out on my own, so I knew I had to get into a housing program. I have done everything I should be doing to achieve my goals and prosper. Therefore this organization has done everything they possibly can for me. I have been told by the chief program manager; Mary London that " we are going to take care of you for 5 years while you finish school... we want you to be ready to be on your own". As long as I work hard, I am taken care of. The Banyan House is much better than I ever thought it could be. I am at home here. The place is really nice, my 2 bedroom unit is wonderful and I feel so blessed. Ms Antonette, the senior case manager here, works overtime in all areas, and in love. I have noticed how she loves to be available for her clients to the best of her ability. She has made sure that I have been recognized for my achievements. All of the staff here are awesome. I really appreciate the care and the treatment we all receive here. It is nice to see so many spiritual staff here. All of them are unique and have nice qualities. It has been a real pleasure to have these folks a part of my life. I have security here. My children are treated with love and that is so important. I tried to go other places and this is the door the Lord opened for me and im am so grateful.

I was truly blessed to have been able to accept help from Fesco. I came from Tricity's family shelter with moderate expectations. I was provided not only shelter at Banyan and food but also a home away from my family. The room I had was clean as well as the other parts of the facility. The staff provided me with guidance and much needed support for myslef and my two children. Whenever I had a problem or just needed to talk the case managers were always there to speak with me and assist me with a resolution. Although Fesco is a business providing services I also felt like the staff were more like family members giving support, lending their ears and sharing my successes. They always encouraged me to continue in my success in school and added to my family stability by being especially supportive of my kids when I felt overwhelmed. Fesco was the help I received when I thought I only needed shelter. They provided much more in the way of enabling me to become more self sufficient and came alongside me in a stressful time. They gave me life skills that I was lacking such as budgeting and parenting classes that I still use to be a more successful person and parent. I want to just thank Fesco for offering me stability and the skills to leave a better person than when I arrived there.