Who is Martin?

San Francisco, CA

Martin has gone through different housing situations from shelters to Airbnbs, while being considered unhoused.

Miracle Money Goals 2021

1. Buy a service dog

2. Pay for the dog’s food and training

Six Month Goals Update

1. Service dog was successfully purchased

2. Martin was also able to pay for the dog’s initial food, equipment, and training.

In Martin’s Words

“Miracle Friends has changed my life. I’ve never gotten that feeling of getting a call, and it’s an important feeling to have. It’s not just about reconnecting with your family either, which some people actually don’t want, but they still feel lonely. It’s a nice thing to have being on a call with a friend and just asking how they are doing. This year, I got a card for Christmas, and you know that’s a nice thing, but a phone call? It’s so caring. It's quite wonderful, actually.”

More about Martin

Due to his disability, he needs the aid of a service dog. It will cost quite a bit to train and feed, but also help him become more independent.

Martin’s Miracle Money Experience

Due to six monthly payments of Miracle Money, Martin was able to adopt and train Summer (his service dog) and purchase food, toys, and equipment for her along with training and bathing supplies and pet insurance for her. He’s been enjoying bonding with her.

The funds have also helped him purchase essential items for himself. Over the hot summer, he lacked access to cold water but was able to buy bottles of Gatorade. He also purchased toiletries, medication, food, and a haircut.

Miracle Money made food and transportation more accessible for Martin, and he was even able to buy a birthday present for his dad and a friend, while also celebrating his own birthday. He also was able to more easily move from one hotel to another.

He was not only able to achieve his goal of adopting a dog and paying for essentials, but he now can enjoy the little things like buying sushi and other nice treats for himself. He can experience more stability in terms of finances and have an opportunity to treat himself once in a while.

Martin still faces discrimination due to his disability. For example, outside of a store, he found himself having to defend his service dog, a German Shepard, from accusations of being “an attack dog” and “dangerous animal.” Martin tries to take these complaints in stride.

He says Miracle Money has helped him address other issues as well, and he looks forward to the Smart Money financial coaching as an investment in himself.

To Martin, the Miracle Money is like a set of training wheels. When they come off, he’ll ride the rest of the way himself.