Meet Victor Michel

Victor Michel was originally a respite guest at the Fairmont Campus Navigation Center who, through hard work, perseverance, and an outstanding Navigation Team, recently attained permanent housing!

Lucy and Nakuia are the two Housing Navigators at the Fairmont Campus Navigation Center. Lucy works primarily with the Respite guests and Nakuia works primarily with the Non-Respite guests. Considering most of our Non-respite guests originally transitioned from Respite, both Navigators play an essential role in building trust with guests and supporting them with their goals while in the program.

Before coming to the Tiny Homes, I had given up hope and started using drugs heavily again - Victor Michel

Victor's Life Before BOSS

Victor had spent the last 19 years in a place not meant for human habitation and was admittedly very reliant on substances to maintain his mental health. He was born in San Leandro but spent many years sleeping in the elements while in Colorado. Mr. Michel left his primary support system, his mother, in Colorado to pursue opportunities to improve his quality of life in California.

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Victor had 5 goals coming into the Fairmont Campus Navigation Center:

1) Happiness 2) Sobriety 3) Housing 4) Eliminating constantly being cold and hungry 5) Attaining a functional wheelchair

After attaining housing, his new goals are:

1) Moving his mother in with him 2) Getting his diploma/GED 3) Gaining employment

Since being in the program, Victor has grown to realize that he has power over his life.

He has taken agency in making his goals a reality. Victor has been Sober for five months now, and has a new electric wheelchair -- with this newfound mobility, he has found personal happiness and peace. Victor has moved into his first permanent living situation in 19 years!

BOSS' Navigation Team

The Navigation Team did a phenomenal job in supporting Victor with locating suitable housing options that fit his unique needs and motivating him to continue growing and pushing forward toward his goals.

Over the years, as the number of people experiencing homelessness exploded throughout our communities, BOSS expanded County-wide, adding programs in response to changing needs: emergency shelters, transitional housing, employment, and education programs, family and child development services, mental health care programs, leadership development, organizing initiatives, re-entry initiatives. All BOSS programs are designed to improve the quality of life for marginalized and disenfranchised people in our community. Today BOSS continues to find innovative, creative ways to address and meet people's needs!

Let's give a huge CONGRATULATIONS to Victor Michel and the outstanding Navigation Team!

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Contributed by: Jason Shaw, Fairmont Campus Navigation Center Program Manager

BOSS programs are innovative, based in evidence-based practices and proven methodologies, and emphasize lived experience: across BOSS over 70% of staff (90% in reentry programs) have personal experience with the same issues faced by current participants.

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