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BUILD DATES: APRIL 11, 2021
FAMILY INFORMATION:
MOM: ELVIRA GAYTAN
Age: 26
Profession: Homemaker
DAD: Rigoberto Bustamante
Age: 25
Profession: Harvests Sage
Salary: $240 USD
CHILDREN:
Rigoberto Jr. , 4 yrs old
PROPERTY INFORMATION
Property cost: $100,000/ $5000 USD Amount owed: $75,000/ $3800 USD
Monthly payments: $1500/ $75 USD Colonia: Tinajitas
Running water: Yes Electricity: No
The family previously lived with Elvira’s mom. They have lived on their property for 1 year.
FAMILY STORY
Originally from Santiago in the southern state of Oaxaca, Elvira moved around a lot as a child while her parents searched for better opportunities. As field workers they lived in the states of Sinaloa, Sonora and Chihuahua. For much of her childhood Elvira’s mother was ill but the family wasn’t exactly sure what was wrong. They moved to Ensenada in search of better medical attention and it was here that her mother was diagnosed with tuberculosis. The family met caring pastors here who prayed and supported them regularly. God heard those prayers and thankfully Elvira’s mother was healed and became well again.
Elvira’s family was in desperate need of a home. The pastors soon gave them the good news that a team was going to build a home for them and shortly afterwards a team from Holland built her family a Home of Hope while she was very young.
When Elvira finished high school she applied to a local university but didn’t pass the entrance exam. It was then that she decided to work in the fields and there she met Rigoberto.
Originally from Oaxaca, Rigoberto and his family moved to Ensenada in search of better economic opportunities. His parents were divorced and he had also lived in the nearby northern states of Sonora and Sinaloa. His family heard that better opportunities were available in Ensenada and soon came here to work.
After meeting at work Rigoberto and Elvira became friends and soon started dating. After being together for 11 months they decided to rent an apartment together. However, after Elvira became pregnant with Rigoberto Jr. they moved in with her mom to save money.
After living with Elvira’s family for 7 months the new parents needed their own space and decided to rent a small room. Around this time they began to save towards the down payment for a property where they could build their own home. Sadly, their rental home was broken into and all their savings were stolen.
Once again they had no other option but to return to live with Elvira’s family and begin saving again for a down payment. Rigoberto and Elvira soon purchased a property with a down payment and built a small room out of wood pallets wrapped in plastic on the outside and cardboard on the inside. At first the roof was just plastic tarps but these were not strong enough in the winds. Later they were able to add plywood to the roof.
Rigoberto works in the fields harvesting sage and also works in the dispatch area. Harvesting is seasonal contract work and he struggles to find work in the winter. Elvira has been without work for four months but in the summer will probably harvest green beans. The majority of her time is spent caring for little Rigoberto Jr.
The Bustamante Gaytan family dreams of a real home so Rigoberto Jr. can have a better quality of life and they can have a safe place to live.