“Nobody wakes up in the morning and says, ‘I want to be homeless,” says Marcus. “Anyone can be homeless. They can be of any creed, color or description.”
Marcus says his family came to Sulzbacher because of his mother’s health. She had diabetes, heart disease and a rare lung condition, and it was impossible for her to hold down a job. They were homeless with no place to go, until a friend told them about Sulzbacher.
He says when they first arrived, he suffered from embarrassment. “I was 17, and no one wants to be a teenager with no place to stay,” he explains. “I was angry and upset because I wanted our situation to be better — and I wanted to be part of making things better.”
After he earned his high school diploma, Marcus left Sulzbacher. But he came here to work a few years later, first as an advocate and then as a case worker.
He’s now employed at UF Health, working on his bachelor’s degree in human services and he’s excited about what the future holds.
He says it takes a village to raise a child. “Be the help that someone needs. Your help today may encourage someone to reach for the moon tomorrow.”
Your support gives families like Marcus’ the hope and help they need for a better life.
