From Homelessness to Homeownership: How One Jacksonville Man Rebuilt His Life and the Agent Who Helped Him Get There

Just three years ago, Brian Fulston was recovering from a stroke, unable to work and facing eviction after his savings were drained by medical complications caused by COVID-19. This week, he unlocked the door to his very own home.

Brian, who suffered a stroke after a blood clot formed during a COVID infection, experienced nerve damage and lost mobility on the right side of his body. After repeated hospitalizations, he was unable to maintain employment and was ultimately evicted in March 2023.

“I had a stroke, and my whole right side was messed up,” Fulston said. “Eventually my savings got dried up.”

He moved into Trinity Rescue Mission in Jacksonville, where he joined the shelter’s program, began working weekend shifts as a resident assistant and started saving what he could from his disability income.

“I just started walking by faith and not by sight,” he said. “I got back in touch with God.”

While rebuilding his health and finances, Fulston decided to pursue something many thought might be out of reach — homeownership.

Through a referral, he connected with Lena Williams, a 20-year real estate veteran with United Real Estate Gallery.

“When he first called, he was unsure,” Williams said. “He told me he didn’t make much income and didn’t know if he could afford a house.”

But Williams approached the situation the same way she approaches every client.

“I ask three things: income, credit and timeframe,” she said. “If someone comes to me and says they want to buy a house, I’m going to get them in a house.”

With a background in mortgage lending, Williams guided Fulston through multiple lender options, rejecting early approvals with unfavorable terms and pushing through underwriting delays tied to his housing history.

“At one point they were debating whether to approve him,” Williams said. “I told them he had great credit and strong numbers. We weren’t giving up.”

After losing out on several offers within his price range, they found the right property — and they closed.

For Fulston, the moment represented more than a financial milestone.

“It feels good,” he said. “I know I can pay my mortgage and still have something in savings.”

Williams didn’t stop at the closing table. Knowing Fulston had no furniture to move in with, she coordinated donations, purchased a bedroom set and gathered essential household items so he wouldn’t walk into an empty house.

“I didn’t want him coming from the mission into his home worrying about needing this or needing that,” Williams said. “I treat every referral like family.”

Fulston agrees.

“She kept reassuring me,” he said. “Even when I was hearing other things, she told me to have faith.”

Now settling into his new space, Fulston says home means something deeply personal. “My mother passed away and after that we all scattered,” he shared. “Now I can recreate that love. I can bring my family together again.”

Looking ahead, he has formed an LLC and is exploring launching a small retail business.

“If I can do this,” he said of homeownership, “I can do more.”

For Williams, the experience reaffirmed her purpose.

“I worked hard for this license,” she said. “It’s not just about a career. It’s about helping people who never believed they could own a home.”

In a market often measured by numbers, this story is a reminder that real estate is ultimately about people — and the lives changed when someone believes in what’s possible.