Marc

In the spirit of mental health care and awareness at St. Joseph Center, we celebrate the bravery of individuals like Marc, who have overcome immense challenges to rebuild their lives.

Due to circumstances beyond his control, Marc lost his savings and retirement and became homeless for eleven years. During that time, he tirelessly submitted job applications, couch-surfed, and even lived out of his car to survive. 

Marc faced physical survival challenges and worried about where to find shelter, food, and clothes. In 2019, Marc had come to a dark place in his life, and although he had reached out for help elsewhere, it wasn’t until connecting with St. Joseph Center’s Access Center mental health services that he began the healing process. He barely survived and struggled to get help to address years of mental health trauma. Marc changed his heart after realizing how much he loved his son and didn’t want to turn 60 while living on the streets. That’s when he called 211 and found his way to St. Joseph Center.

Due to self-doubt, stigma, and public perceptions around homelessness, Marc described being terrified to ask for help before connecting with St. Joseph Center’s Homeless Services Center (HSC). After signing up for services, Marc came to the Center to take showers, ate meals at the Bread and Roses Café, and received mental health therapy. He learned how to use meditation, mindfulness practices, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to rewrite his story of trauma. Marc spent the rest of his days in coffee shops and libraries that had free Wifi so he could search for housing. When asked about his experience working with HSC, Marc expressed gratitude to his support team at the Center,

“I was treated as a person from day one. Without kindness, I wouldn’t be here—” he says. “I was simply met with kindness, respect, compassion, and an attempt to understand. The help on top of that was beyond expectations. There is no hope when you get to a point where I was. Restoring hope is a miracle and a major accomplishment––I take pride in it too. I recognize the work I’ve done, which has been daunting, arduous, and surprising. The challenges you face daily to get through the day are beyond conception.”

Marc has been permanently housed in Santa Monica, CA, since 2020. When we asked Marc how he feels today, he shared that on the day before his birthday in May each year, he celebrates his rebirthday – the day he chose to keep living. He wants to continue his mental health journey and pursue his stage acting and writing passions. 

“For every person that comes through the door, there’s a face. For every face, there’s a tragedy and story. My therapist (at SJC) established a sense of trust. I thanked the security guard, too, because he was so kind to me. I also empathize with people that are going through challenges and their workers. Everyone should know their job matters,”

At St. Joseph Center, the people we serve are not case numbers. We value every individual’s needs, programs, and concerns so they know we are on their side and support their overall well-being. Join us in creating a world where everyone, like Marc, has a safe and healthy place to live and thrive.