The gentle purr of a cat named Hamilton was once Jose Rendon’s only comfort during countless nights spent without a permanent home. Now, that same cat lounges contentedly in Rendon’s apartment – a testament to how far they’ve both come. Known online as “Nomad” or @noyesmad, Rendon’s transformation from homelessness and crushing debt to financial stability in just eight months isn’t just another social media success story – it’s a raw chronicle of human resilience that has captivated millions.
“I was homeless, over $10,000 in debt, and with a cat,” Rendon recalls with striking candor. “I documented my whole homelessness journey via TikTok, and built a lovely community out of it. I managed to clear off my debt and get my first apartment within 8 months.”
Yet behind these straightforward words lies a story of staggering determination. While many would have buckled under the pressure, Rendon chose to document his struggles on TikTok, where his unvarnished look at homelessness struck a chord with viewers. “It’s not just about not having a place to sleep,” he explains, his words carrying the weight of lived experience. “It’s the mental toll. You’re constantly in survival mode, making decisions with no safety net, and that kind of stress changes you. People assume homelessness is just about money, but it’s also about time—how much harder it is to get a job without an address, how much longer simple things take when you don’t have stability.”
The path forward demanded sacrifices few would willingly make. Rendon secured two full-time jobs, routinely working between 80 to 120 hours weekly – the equivalent of three typical work weeks crammed into one. “Simple—I didn’t want to be in that position, and I never want to be in it again,” he says, reflecting on what drove him. “That thought alone kept me going. I knew I needed to make sacrifices to build a better life—not just for myself, but for Ham too.”
Perhaps the most daunting challenge wasn’t the long hours or physical exhaustion, but the complete absence of guidance. “The hardest part was having no guidance—figuring everything out on my own,” Rendon shares. “There was no roadmap, no one telling me the ‘right’ steps to take. It pushed me way out of my comfort zone, forcing me to make decisions fast and learn from them just as quickly.”
As his journey unfolded on social media, particularly on Instagram and YouTube, Rendon built something unexpected: a genuine community. His audience, now surpassing 135,000 followers with 5.4 million likes on TikTok alone, transformed from passive viewers into active participants in his success story. “I knew my community truly cared when they started offering advice, sending gifts, and even helping me find job opportunities,” he remembers warmly. “It wasn’t just people watching my story—it was people invested in seeing me succeed.”
The experience has profoundly altered Rendon’s perspective on success and happiness. His voice softens when he reflects on this transformation: “Before, I thought success was about having—a nice apartment, a certain income, stability. But now I see it’s about freedom—the ability to wake up and not have to fight for every little thing. Money isn’t just money; it’s security, opportunity, and peace of mind. And happiness? It’s not in what you own. It’s in gratitude. I was forced to find joy in the smallest things when I had nothing, and that’s something I never want to lose, no matter how far I go.”
Today, Rendon continues sharing his journey across multiple platforms, including Snapchat. His content focuses on the unglamorous reality of maintaining stability through discipline and hard work. Whether he’s discussing late-night shifts, sharing meal prep routines, or capturing quiet moments with Hamilton, Rendon’s message remains steadfast: progress isn’t about dramatic transformations, but about showing up day after day, regardless of circumstances.
For those following his story, Rendon offers living proof that while circumstances may define a moment, they don’t have to define a life. His journey resonates not because it’s extraordinary, but because it’s extraordinarily human – a reminder that sometimes the most powerful changes come from simply refusing to give up, even when the odds seem insurmountable. In a social media world often criticized for its artificiality, Rendon’s authentic voice cuts through the noise, offering hope and practical wisdom in equal measure.
