Husband, wife go from 8 years of homelessness to newly furnished home for their kids

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- After nearly a decade of living on the streets, the Mercado family now has something they haven't had in years, a fully-furnished home of their own.

Thanks to the efforts of local nonprofits, community volunteers, and unwavering determination, the family of four is finally starting a new chapter in National City. And it all came together in what Humble Design, a nonprofit organization, calls a “Day of Joy.”

For more than eight years, Socorro and Harry Mercado struggled with homelessness and drug addiction, all while trying to raise two children.

"Both my husband and I struggled with drug addiction for over 20 years, homelessness for about eight to ten years, about two and a half years ago, we were just tired and exhausted," said Socorro Mercado.

Eventually, the couple sought help, entering sober living, participating in counseling, and receiving financial coaching. They worked hard to secure full-time jobs, and while they could afford rent, they couldn’t afford to furnish a home for their family.

That’s when Humble Design San Diego, a nonprofit that furnishes homes for families emerging from homelessness, stepped in to help. With the help of donors and volunteers, they transformed the Mercados’ bare National City house into a warm, fully-furnished home personalized for each family member.

"Currently, we do three homes every week, every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday," said Laura Lavoie, Executive Director of Humble Design SD. "For the month of August, we’re doing four homes a week. We want families to feel that sense of belonging and stability."

Prior to the makeover, the family had only a couch and three beds. Now, their home is filled with comfort, personality and dignity.

The Mercados also received critical help from Lenique Carter, a case manager with Alpha Project, a San Diego nonprofit that supports individuals experiencing homelessness. Carter worked closely with the family to help them secure housing and provided rental assistance, ensuring they wouldn’t return to the streets.

"I’m not going to have my kids in the madness of the streets," said Harry Mercado.
"The next day we went to ECTLC (East County Transitional Living Center). We had nothing. I had a black eye, and the kids were traumatized from what they’d been through."

The couple's two children had briefly been living with a family member before being kicked out and becoming homeless themselves, even if just for a day. That moment became the turning point.

Now, their children have rooms decorated around their interests and more importantly, a sense of security and pride in their parents.

"I never thought we were going to be here. I had the worst anxieties. I thought they were going to stay on the streets forever. I'm so proud of both of them," said their son Santana Mercado.

The Mercados know the road they traveled won’t be easy for everyone but they hope their story inspires others to believe change is possible.

"Now we know how to navigate through life. Nothing can stop us now. What we’ve been through together, nothing can make or break us," Harry Mercado said.