SAN DIEGO — It's a rare success story for a young couple and their baby experiencing homelessness in San Diego, more than one year in the making.
CBS 8 has followed this family's journey for the past 18 months and now one of our generous viewers has stepped up when the family needed it most.
January 2023
Husband Marcos and his pregnant wife Ariel were sleeping in a tent on the streets of Downtown San Diego in January 2023.
January 2024
This past January, CBS 8 checked back in. The couple and their baby boy were staying at Father Joe's shelter but running out of time.
June 2024
“I was worried just a couple of months ago about where we would end up and now I can rest easy. It’s a beautiful life that we’re living now," said Ariel.
They say they’re forever grateful to Matthew Holten. He saw their story and opened up his heart and home to Ariel, Marcos and their one-year-old boy.
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“I saw Marcos on the news. I decided to give it a shot and have him, his wife and baby move in and it happened to be on his son’s first birthday, that’s what got me," Holten said.
He’s a single father and business owner who needed help on his farm in Valley Center. He invited them to move into his house. Marcos has become his right-hand man ever since.
“Here it’s like wow! We’re in the streets, in the shelter and now we’re starting businesses - this is amazing. This is just the start," Marcos said.
Ariel agrees. “We’ve been great and our son has been thriving. We’re just looking forward to what's next and starting the next chapter of our lives," she said.
That next chapter includes lifting others up the way they’ve been lifted.
“Give outreach to other homeless individuals and families as well because it takes a community," Marcos said.
They’re inspired to help others who are unhoused. They want to provide shelter and the opportunity to work on the farm, grow food and teach the agriculture business.
“It’s like we’re killing two birds with one stone. Not only are we supplying people with food but giving them jobs, give them a place to live and help them out of a really difficult situation. I think that could be a really awesome and meaningful thing," Holton said.
Marcos is confident people will step up the way Holton stepped up for them.
“It’s going to take a community. A lot of help and me and Matt are only two people. I know there are more people willing to jump on this bandwagon. We got to take care of our community," Marcos said.
You can learn more about their farm-to-table project to help the homeless called "Help the Homeless Community Support Agriculture Project," here.
At CBS 8, we are always Working for You and our community. This is a station promise that we will go the extra mile to solve a problem our audience can’t solve themselves. We want to hear your ideas on how we can cover and help our community. If you have a story idea, please email us at workingforyou@cbs8.com.
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