Marcy Lousie Gonzalez

In 2000, Marcy and her two boys were living in a house that had drug activity. It wasn’t long before Marcy felt compelled to use. After a five year struggle with her own addiction, Marcy’s turning point came in 2005 when she was put in jail and lost her boys to the foster care system. Marcy was devastated, even though the boys were placed with a family member. She had to fight hard and long to get them back. “I tried to do everything the courts wanted me to do but they still would not give me my kids back.”

Marcy fell into a deep depression from the loss of her kids. She went from house to house and eventually to BOSS’s South County Homeless Project. Her children were finally able to visit her when she moved to Pacheco Court Transitional House. “My case manager Angelique and the groups helped me a lot.” Finally after 2 years, her fifth CPS worker began to champion for Marcy to get her kids back. By May 2006 they were returned to her permanently.

Marcy and her boys live in a Hayward apartment and pay market rate rent. She is on the waiting list for affordable housing. She is connected to the Regent Center and plans to go to the Hayward Adult School to get her GED and then take classes to become a counselor. “I have learned that if I am not well, I cannot take care of my kids.” Marcy plans to stay well. “She continues to make healthy choices in regards to her life and her recovery,” Case manager Angelique Holmes said.

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