Josue

Hello, my name is Josue Martinez. I am 31 years old. I was born in El Salvador and raised in the United States, growing up in Houston, Texas since the 5th grade.

In my early twenties, I made the decision to move from Houston to California. Looking back, it was not a wise decision. When we are young, we don’t always understand the consequences of our choices. I didn’t have any family in California, yet I still chose to move there. Once I arrived, I was exposed to situations and challenges I had never experienced before.

During that time, I went through homelessness and faced many personal obstacles. I also experienced incarceration. I lost everything I had built up over the years—my job, my car, my clothes, my personal belongings, and most importantly, my important documents. I want to be clear that I am not a dangerous person or a criminal. However, when I was released from Elmwood, all I had were the clothes on my back. I had nowhere to go and no one I could reach out to for help.

Everything began to change when I found out about Conxion to Community. Conxion has truly been a lifesaver. They helped keep me off the streets by giving me opportunities to stay busy and work as much as possible. Through the resources they provide, I have been able to slowly rebuild my life.

Thanks to Conxion, I was able to get my driver’s license—something I had never had before, and something I am incredibly proud of. They also gave me the opportunity to work, and the people I worked for were very satisfied. Because of that, I now receive regular calls from people who trust me and want me to continue working for them. Sometimes I even think about starting my own business one day.

I started going to Conxion in 2024, and now in 2026, my life has changed for the better. Everything I have accomplished, I owe to Conxion to Community.