Saint Vincent de Paul
Home for Success
Saint Vincent de Paul Home for Success (“Home for Success”) is a brand-new “start-up” being developed by The Society of St. Vincent de Paul District Council of Sonoma County, Inc. (SVdP-Sonoma). The goal is to provide at-risk youth with two essential features for college success – a stable home, and access to an onsite, live-in mentor-coach. Home for Success is dedicated to the educational success of four resident students at a time, each of whom has been in foster care and would benefit from additional support.
Home for Success is a five-bedroom, four-bathroom home, with one student per bedroom and shared living spaces. The home is about 2,600 square feet and has lots of outdoor space. It is located about a half-mile north of the Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) campus in Santa Rosa. Included with each resident’s monthly rent are utilities (including internet access), common household supplies, and opportunity for shared meals. Other personal items are each individual’s responsibility. The onsite mentor will reside in the home, and will be available daily as needed for support.
We wish to serve prospective students who meet the following criteria:
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Completion of high school with a diploma or equivalent.
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Experience of foster care while 16 to 18 years of age.
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Significant risk of homelessness.
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Enrollment in an SRJC program, developed in consultation with the SRJC Counseling staff, and with the option of consultation with our mentor.
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Enrollment in a course load with a minimum of six credits each semester, with a plan to complete the program within three years.
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Access to financial aid via grants and/or scholarships to cover rent and basic expenses.
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Commitment to create a home environment that includes:
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Respect for fellow residents.
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Ability to share common space areas.
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Participation in meal service and household chores.
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Dedication to meeting academic demands, utilizing available support when needed.
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Participate in the creation of ground rules for shared living in peace.
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Compliance with COVID-19 prevention guidelines.
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Compliance with restrictions on drug and alcohol use, weapons, and destructive behavior.
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Completion of the SVdP-Sonoma Home for Success on-line application, including:
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A high school transcript and diploma or equivalent.
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A letter of recommendation from an adult who knows the applicant well.
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Completion of a personal vision statement and sharing of aspirations via the application form.
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Consent to COVID-19 testing.
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A face-to-face interview, if invited.
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Next Steps: if you are interested in applying to participate in Home for Success, please complete the initial application form below. And if you know someone who should apply, please direct them to this page on our web site ASAP. Thanks!
Dan Sullivan, Mentor in Residence
Dan Sullivan has a B.A. from the University of Santa Clara and a Ph.D. in economics from Yale University. He is also a professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota, where he held the Cowles Chair in Media Management and Economics.
Previously, Dan was the senior economist and director of strategic development for Cowles Media and the Star Tribune newspaper in Minneapolis for 15 years. For more than 30 years, he also served as an expert witness for the government and private plaintiffs in civil rights litigation against the public systems of higher education in several southern states.
Since retiring, Dan has volunteered at Cookie Cart, a nonprofit urban bakery that provides job readiness, leadership, customer service, and financial literacy skills to low-income youth aged 15-17 from Minneapolis and Saint Paul. During the school year, Dan also volunteers as a math tutor at his local parish elementary school, and teaches the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at the parish’s preschool. Dan has five adult children and 11 grandchildren.