MACON, Ga. — Anyone can become homeless.
United Way of Central Georgia tells us there are now around 650 people un-housed in Macon, and thousands more may be housing insecure.
Getting back on your feet can be a long and challenging journey.
If there's an event at the Tubman Museum, you'll likely see Swanagan setting it up.
"Going on about nine years. I'm an event set up person and do janitorial work," he says.
However, his work doesn't stop there; he also has a second job at Burger King.
"It'll be five years in December," Swanagan says.
Things are going well for him, but it wasn't supposed to be like this.
"Got sidetracked and got stuck in Macon," Swanagan said.
23 years ago, Swanagan was moving from his home state, Kentucky, to Florida.
"I was driving with friends of mine," he explained. "They pulled us over and said we were speeding, and they said I didn't have a license. It was expired."
He says he was arrested and would spend the next 90 days in the Monroe County Jail.
"My 90 days were up, they said, "We'll take you to the Macon bus station.' I didn't have any cash, I didn't have any identification, I didn't have anything."
His first worry was just finding something to eat. Then, where to sleep.
"Central City Park was one of them. Up around the bus station terminal to keep warm and sheltered or whatever it was," Swanagan remembered.
He said it'd take nine months to get a new I.D. with the help of the Loaves and Fishes Ministry– a faith-based non-profit that helps people experiencing homelessness– before he could even get a job.
Swanagan says he was homeless for the first time ever.
"You sleep with one eye open. You don't know what people are about to do or what's going to happen," he said.
For the next two decades, Swanagan would go from one job to another, living off and on the streets at different times.
"My first job here was Pizza Hut on Spring Street. I got a job at Burger King, and then I worked at Mercer for five years."
He says it's hard to get back on your feet.
"You have to spend money everywhere you go. You've got to spend money to eat, you've got to spend money to wash clothes, you've got to spend money on this. When you're out, bumming for a job-- resources come first," he explained.
On the street and without a job at the time, in 2012, Swanagan said he heard of a new resource center opening: Daybreak.
"You can go down there and take a shower, get a snack and get your clothes washed," he explained.
He says it ended up being everything he needed.
"Clothing, bathing, food, a place to relax, seeing doctors. I would come every day," Swanagan said.
Swanagan says Daybreak is 75% of the reason he was able to get back on his feet.
"Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of reasons for people to be out there. Drugs is one, being abused is two. It helps a lot if you really want to get back on your feet," Swanagan explained.
It's been six years since he's needed Daybreak's help and he says he won't be needing it again.
He has two jobs and a place to stay.
"You have to be strong in these streets," Swanagan said, tearing up. "As long as you have care and love and love in your heart for people, you can get through it. It's how you overcome it."
Swanagan says he's taking it one day at a time. He says he still wants to visit Florida to see the ocean one day.
He says he owes most of his success to Daybreak, which offers medical resources like volunteer nurses, mental health resources, and case managers.