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Fremont Cares: From the Streets to Stability
Post Date: 07/28/2025 8:30 AM

 Lisa smiles in her new apartment

 After dedicating her life to caring for her elderly mother, “Lisa” found herself without a place to live following her mother’s passing and the sale of their home.

This marked the beginning of a long period of uncertainty. For three years, she faced homelessness—a stark contrast to her entrepreneurial past as the owner of a successful children's clothing store.

Lisa recalled many challenges she faced during that time: moving from shelter to shelter, finding a place to park without being harassed, and finding public restrooms that felt safe.

“No where felt safe,” Lisa said.

During the pandemic, she took on a delivery job, distributing food boxes across Northern California. While she enjoyed the opportunity to hike, explore, and stay in hotels, when possible, rising gas prices and insufficient pay eventually made it unsustainable. Despite her efforts to seek assistance, she ultimately chose to stay in her car due to a lack of privacy.

That’s when she enrolled in the City of Fremont’s Safe Parking Host Site [ https://www.fremont.gov/residents/homeless-response/homeless-services/safe-parking ](SPHS) program.

"Going to the safe parking program gave me stability and a place to go. No traumatizing knock on the window. As a woman, I felt safer. People there were so nice,” said Lisa. 

The program provided more than just a safe place to park; it offered a sense of community and support.

“Other participants encouraged me to attend City Council meetings and get engaged in what is happening in Fremont,” said Lisa.

Lisa had a particularly impactful experience when First United Methodist Church (FUMC) hosted the SPHS program. Late nights in her car turned productive with access to the church's Wi-Fi, letting her search for affordable housing and join waitlists from Fremont to Oregon.

Coupled with the safety and time afforded by the program, this access and support allowed her to gather her documents and meet the necessary housing eligibility requirements.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the parking space and emotional support at FUMC,” Lisa emphasized.

The SPHS program staff also helped her follow up on permanent housing opportunities, identifying a Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) match. With their guidance, Lisa completed the application process and was able to move out of her car and into an apartment.

Today, Lisa lives in a PSH unit in Fremont, where her life has taken a new turn. Starting out with limited furniture, her housing provider even helped her get essentials like a bed frame, mattress, vacuum, and air fryer, while she adjusted to living inside.

As she prepares to welcome her first grandchild in July, Lisa looks forward to the simple joys of family life—playing with the baby and having her children visit her new home.

Having all her personal belongings under one roof has brought Lisa a renewed sense of peace and well-being, empowering her to once again pursue her passions.

With her art supplies no longer scattered across storage units and friends’ houses, she is rediscovering her entrepreneurial spirit. She now spends time indoors, immersed in creating paintings, collages, and beaded pieces, and is building an Etsy site to showcase and sell her art.

Lisa encourages anyone living in their vehicles in Fremont to join the SPHS program waitlist and enroll as soon as possible. She emphasizes that homelessness can happen to anyone, often triggered by unforeseen life events such as overwhelming medical bills, but there is shared humanity beneath different circumstances.

She also encourages churches and community organizations to consider joining the SPHS program. “You would experience immense gratitude because what you offer is so helpful,” she said. 

When churches and community organizations open their doors to host a SPHS program space, they offer more than just a safe haven; they provide a powerful reminder that compassion and support can make a world of difference in someone's life.

About Fremont Cares

The City’s Fremont Cares storytelling series aims to shed light on the real-life experiences of Fremont's unhoused residents, highlight the homeless response services provided by dedicated City staff and partner agencies, and inspire others to get involved and help.

 To learn how you can help, visit How to Help [ https://www.fremont.gov/residents/homeless-response/how-to-help ].

Click here for more information [ https://www.fremont.gov/Home/Components/News/News/1425/ ]
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