Staff Profile: Francisco Martinez Marquez

 

Francisco Martinez Marquez, shelter supervisor in residence, with children at New Hope for Families

Name: Francisco Martinez Marquez

Job title: Shelter Supervisor in Residence

New Hope employee since: September 1, 2022

Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Favorite color: Red

Favorite food: “I love sweets, so most anything sweet.”

Favorite book: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Pets: Ana Sofia (“Sofie”), a dachshund (in Puerto Rico); Elio, a new kitten (in Bloomington)

Fun fact: One of Francisco’s hobbies is flamenco dancing

Francisco became New Hope Family Shelter’s first-ever Shelter Supervisor in Residence shortly after our new facility opened in 2022. For the past two years, he has overseen the safety and comfort of families while they are in the shelter. Francisco’s job is to ensure that families have a clean and welcoming space and that they feel cared for and respected during their time in the shelter.

A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Francisco has lived in Indiana for more than five years. Prior to coming to New Hope, he worked with kids as a volunteer at Indiana Youth Group (IYG) in Indianapolis.

By working part-time for New Hope and living on-site, Francisco was recently able to complete his master’s degree from Indiana University’s O’Neill School for Public and Environmental Affairs. But what drew Francisco to New Hope was the opportunity to work with children and families.

Why I work at New Hope

“I really like the idea of working with kids – I did that at IYG – and I’ve learned so much from them. It's just fascinating how smart they are,” said Francisco. “And the idea of planning programming… to bring some joy to families while they are going through one of the hardest times in their lives… I really appreciate it.”

Most rewarding aspect of the job

“It’s cliché, but seeing the kids smile and laugh whenever we do an activity, and the parents too, seeing the entire family enjoy themselves every time we do an activity. It's like my favorite part.”

Francisco makes sure every family who stays in our shelter is able to have positive and enriching experiences to look back on. That may seem like a small concern in comparison to helping families recover from homelessness and find a new home, but Francisco plays an essential role in the care and support we provide for families in crisis.

Francisco (right) and Chase Techentin (left), New Hope for Families operations director, serve cookies and punch for families at an Easter party in 2023

If a family is at risk of sleeping outside or in their car, Francisco is able to complete emergency after-hours shelter intakes, ensuring that the family can immediately enter shelter and have a safe place to lay their heads that night.

As our family programming coordinator, Francisco has responsibility for organizing events and activities for the families during their stay with us. Under Francisco, a series of annual celebrations has become a tradition that families are able to look forward to and enjoy, including pumpkin carving in October, a Valentine’s party in February, an Easter egg hunt in the spring, and a cookout/carnival at the beginning of summer, in addition to family game nights each month.

As the first person to fill the Shelter Supervisor in Residence role at New Hope Family Shelter, Francisco has made it his job to provide our families with peace of mind. While families navigate through this difficult time in their lives, they know they have someone who is here for them, will listen to them, and is cheering for them to succeed.

“I think the work that everyone does here really, truly makes a difference. And I hope that people keep supporting New Hope,” added Francisco. “Not only does it make a difference to the people who live here, but I think, for the people who work here, I feel like it also changes us for the better.”

 
New Hope for Families