The County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors meeting on September 15, 2025, highlighted the inspiring journey of a local family overcoming personal struggles with the help of county services. The story of Frank and Lisa, who faced significant challenges including foster care, substance abuse, and homelessness, was shared to illustrate the impact of the county's safety net programs.

Frank spent years in foster care and turned to substance abuse for comfort, which led to incarceration and nearly eight years of homelessness. Lisa, on the other hand, experienced violence at home, leading her to live in a children's shelter. By the age of 14, she began struggling with drugs and alcohol, which ultimately cost her a career and left her without stable housing.

Their paths crossed during their struggles, and they found companionship and support in each other, even while living in a car. The couple's lives took a pivotal turn when Lisa discovered she was pregnant with their son, Gino. Faced with the choice of entering drug rehabilitation or losing her child, Lisa chose to seek help.

Both Lisa and Gino successfully completed a two-month rehabilitation program, after which they rejoined Frank. Together, they accessed CalWORKs services, which provided them with essential support including medical coverage, counseling, childcare, and transportation assistance. With this help, they secured stable housing, and Frank completed a GED program, eventually finding employment with a downtown streets team in San Jose.

This family's story serves as a powerful testament to the effectiveness of county support services in transforming lives and fostering resilience in the face of adversity. The Board of Supervisors emphasized the importance of these programs in helping families build a better future.