Building a Life to Move into: Ava’s Journey Home

The following article was written and shared with the RSCP by Amigos de Guadalupe staff. The name Ava is used to protect the privacy of the individual in the story.

​SILICON VALLEY — When Ava first connected with the Safe Park program in fall 2024, she was living in her car. She'd learned about the program through a community resource hotline and upon enrollment, chose a location close to the area she'd long called home, near churches she recognized, places that felt familiar and safe.
"It was the safest place for me in such a difficult season," Ava says. What struck Ava most was the consistency. Church hosts showed up every single morning and evening.
"No one forgot us," she recalls. "Someone was always there." 

For Ava, that reliability went deeper than logistics. It helped her begin a process of healing she hadn't expected.

Behind the scenes, Ava was doing the hard work. With support from her case manager Dyana, she navigated a month-long process of applications, qualifications, and waitlists. She connected with housing agencies, applied for rental assistance, and kept pushing forward.

"No one forgot us," she recalls. "Someone was always there." For Ava, that reliability went deeper than logistics. It helped her begin a process of healing she hadn't expected.

Behind the scenes, Ava was doing the hard work. With support from her case manager Dyana, she navigated a month-long process of applications, qualifications, and waitlists. She connected with housing agencies, applied for rental assistance, and kept pushing forward.

"Dyana (case manager) was integral to coaching and encouraging me through the process," Ava says. "She helped connect me to resources for moving in, for which I'm eternally grateful."
The Safe Park program also helped Ava with practical needs along the way like car repairs, storage fees, and insurance; the kind of expenses that can derail someone's stability when every dollar matters.

Through it all, Ava never stopped building toward her future. She holds an advanced degree and has been growing her own consulting business, steadily adding clients while supplementing her income with gig work. She wasn't just waiting for housing; she was building a life to move into.
And then, the moment arrived.

"I got housing!!!!" Ava texted her case manager. She secured a studio apartment in San Jose, with rental assistance to help bridge the gap as her business grows.

Ava's journey is a testament to what becomes possible when someone has a safe place to sleep, people who show up for them, and a case manager who knows how to navigate the system. Safe Park didn't just give Ava a parking spot, it gave her a foundation to rebuild from.

Thank you for being the foundation that makes new beginnings possible.

Stories like Ava's don't happen without the people who show up, morning and evening, rain or shine. Our partners and dedicated volunteers make Safe Park possible by opening their doors, preparing meals, and offering a consistent, caring presence to every guest in the program. You are the reason no one is forgotten.

* IN ADDITION TO THE AMIGOS ARTICLE ABOVE, THE RSCP WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO AVA THAT IT WAS A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU, AND WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK FOR THE FUTURE!

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About Rotating Safe Car Park (RSCP) Shelter
RSCP's mission is to create safe and welcoming spaces where guests who are living in their cars can sleep, stabilize, recover, and gain access to social services. This care for our neighbors who are home insecure is accomplished through the collaboration of faith-based communities, local city governments, and other service organizations.

​About Amigos de Guadelupe Center for Justice & Empowerment
Amigos is a community-based nonprofit in East San José, and since 2012, we’ve been proud to walk alongside our neighbors. Inspired by the voices of leaders like Dolores Huerta, Blanca Alvarado, and the immigrant families who paved the way, we work to break the cycle of poverty through transformational systems change work and basic needs services. From housing support and immigration services to education programs and community advocacy, we’re here to help families build stability, find their voice, and thrive. Our mission is simple: empower families, uplift voices, and create a stronger, more equitable East San José, together!