Our Story
We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to experience safe and supportive spaces that respect and foster their strengths, creativity and abilities. Since 1994, Home Away has enriched the lives of thousands of children and youth impacted by homelessness, providing emotional, social, recreational and educational support. Our multi-faceted programs create supportive environments in which homeless youth can attain their full potential, live healthy lives, and break the cycle of homelessness and poverty.
Our Team
Denelle Crespo - Youth Specialist
Denelle Crespo is a passionate Youth Specialist at A Homeaway from Homelessness, where she works to advocate and provide critical support to youth experiencing homelessness and other challenges. With a background in Elementary Special Education, Denelle has served as both a Case Manager and Education Specialist for students who have Individual Education Plans, focusing on empowering underrepresented youth and access to crucial resources early in their educational career within the Bay Area. Born and raised in San Francisco, she is dedicated to giving back to her community and making a lasting impact on the lives of those she serves. She is a proud dog mom to Oso, who also provides crucial comfort, emotional support, and lots of unconditional love to all students, staff, and volunteers she gets the pleasure of meeting.
Rosa Gonzalez - Outreach and Volunteer Manager
Rosa has served as the Family Center Coordinator at San Pedro Elementary School since 2011, one of two elementary schools in the Canal neighborhood supported by ELM. In this capacity, she leads a range of parent engagement and support services, including school-based counseling, family advocacy, and parent education. Rosa has also directed the SRCS Summer Bridge program for the past six summers, a program designed to foster school readiness for kindergarten-bound students and their families.
Born and raised in Mexico, Rosa holds an Associate degree in Accounting from CBTIS Mexico. In recognition of her exceptional contributions, she was honored with the Above Self award by the Evening Rotary Club of San Rafael in 2021. Additionally, Rosa has owned and managed her own business, further demonstrating her leadership and entrepreneurial skills. Rosa’s daughter was part of the inaugural class of cellists at ELM and currently plays in the ELM Youth Orchestra.
Mariana Lopez Quintanilla - Industry Director
Mariana Lopez Quintanilla is a native of Venezuela who started her journey in the educational field in 1998, working in early childhood education and academic support for students with ADHD. In 2007, she managed a program for refugee youth in Miami-Dade County. There she ensured that families understood the educational system and that students received services that supported their academic and social development.
In 2009, Mariana joined Bay Area Community Resources, where she has worked in the out of school field in different capacities serving thousands of students every year and is now supporting a team of youth development and family services professionals in San Francisco and Marin County. She is passionate about working toward equity in education, implementing strategies to develop quality programs, and finding resources that inspire students and staff to learn and grow.
2014 Mariana received the BACR Best Practices Award for the Expanded Learning Industry and a Golden Bell Award from the Marin County Office of Education for Student Programs. She completed a fellowship in 2016 with the National Equity Project and, in 2020, the National After School Matters Fellowship with the National Institute of Out of School Time. In 2022, Mariana received a Non-profit Management and Leadership certification from Duke University.