Couple Expecting Baby While Living in Homeless Shelter Given Shocking Offer from Strangers on Facebook

Olivia Norman’s life changed completely when she found out she was pregnant at just 20 years old. She had no support from her family and nowhere stable to live.

Her parents did not approve of her being unmarried and pregnant. Her boyfriend, Isiah Kurgan, also had a difficult relationship with his mother, leaving them with no one to rely on.

“We stuck by each other’s side. He worked two jobs, and I would look for a place to live,” Norman told PEOPLE exclusively. “It was, and still is, us against the world.”

Even with Kurgan working multiple shifts, the couple quickly became homeless. They moved between hotels, slept in Kurgan’s car, and stayed with friends when they could, before eventually ending up in a shelter in Santa Maria, Calif. The instability was especially hard with a baby on the way.

In June 2022, hoping for a fresh start, Norman posted a heartfelt message on Facebook explaining their situation. She shared that they were expecting a child and needed a safe place to live.

“My parents didn’t support the idea of us living together in their house if we weren’t married,” she explained. “I also didn’t want to put the stress of a baby on my parents; my mom was going through cancer treatment at the time. It was best for us to rent.”

By chance, her message reached homeowners Gary and Michelle Gorospe. They were moved by Norman’s honesty and offered the couple a room in their home.

“She had expressed to me how scared she was with her current situation due to being robbed while in a shelter and having instability in their lives,” Gary told PEOPLE.

“I felt the universe telling me to reach out and help them because…a second chance is what everyone deserves,” the 45-year-old landlord added.

From the moment Gary met them, he felt a connection and knew they were meant to be part of their lives. As a U.S. Air Force veteran who had faced his own struggles without much help, he understood how it felt to be alone. His wife had also gone through her own hardships, and helping the couple became part of their healing journey.

While Norman and Kurgan stayed in a rented room in the Gorospe’s home, the close arrangement allowed Gary and Michelle to offer steady support, especially while Norman recovered from childbirth.

After giving birth to her son near the end of September 2022, Norman faced postpartum depression.

“I struggled a lot with my body image and how my body had changed. I hated my body and the way it was different,” she said.

“Before I got pregnant, I had just gotten sober and was working out a lot. I was in the best shape of my life,” she added. “After I had my son, my body did not look the same at all. I lost sleep and I stopped eating. I truly lost myself in the first few months.”

On her toughest days, when Norman was overwhelmed, Gary and Michelle would often take the baby so she could rest, shower, or just have a moment to herself.

“During the days, both Gary and Michelle would watch my son if I needed to run to the store for something,” Norman shared. “Eventually, when I went back to work, both Gary and Michelle went out of their way to babysit my 7-month-old baby in the mornings until [Kurgan] came home from work.”

Even though they each had three children from previous relationships, Gary and Michelle quickly formed a close bond with Norman’s son.

“I would take him on little getaways and eat lunch together, and he would sleep on my chest,” Gary recalled.

Their support became essential, creating a nurturing environment that helped Norman and Kurgan feel less alone during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives.

“Gary and Michelle helped remind me that I had a village behind us, and it was okay to ask for help,” Norman admitted.

“I struggled with thinking that I was the only one who could do things, and them always checking in, and being willing to help, helped me realize that I wasn’t alone, and it was okay if I needed a minute to myself.”

Although Norman’s parents lived 25 minutes away and would sometimes visit, it was Gary and Michelle who became her true source of comfort and stability.

“They took a chance on a young pregnant couple expecting a baby and made us feel like family,” Norman emphasized.

After almost two years of living together, the Gorospes decided to move to North Carolina — but they first made sure Norman, Kurgan, and their son had a safe new home in Guadalupe, Calif.

“We are so very proud of them in their journey of raising their child and becoming a nuclear family unit,” Gary said.

To the Gorospes, the couple’s story is a powerful reminder that even from rock bottom, it’s possible to rise — and sometimes, all it takes is a little kindness from people who truly care.

“One thing they have taught me is that your community and village is who you make it,” Norman, now 23, said. “Friends become family — the people in your corner always want the best for you.”