Ernesto, 25 years old, CA |

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Ernesto’s story shows resilience and the importance of family. He entered foster care at 13 and faced many challenges, but remained hopeful. As a young teen, he became a father, which motivated him to seek a better life. After leaving foster care, he experienced homelessness but continued to fight for his future and his children's. He recently graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and has regained custody of his kids, providing them the stability he needed while in care. Ernesto is passionate about mental health and wants to help other young people and families. In his free time, he enjoys music, journaling, and being outdoors with his children, and he is known for his kindness and drive to create positive change.

Ernesto recently moved out of a housing unit that was infested with bedbugs, which made it unsafe to keep or reuse existing beds. As he rebuilds his home after experiencing homelessness and regaining full custody of his sons, he is furnishing the space from scratch. New mattresses will allow his boys to each have a clean, comfortable place to sleep, helping establish routine, security, and a sense of belonging.