Faith Community- Torrez Gaspar Family

Build Dates: May 25 & 26

Family Information:

Mother- Zahira

• Age: 25

• Profession:

• Weekly Salary: $65 approx.

Children-

• Rodrigo, 6 yrs, Kindergarten

• Adrian, 2 yrs

Property Information:

Colonia- Esteban Cantu
Time with property- 1 1/2 yrs
Electricity- Yes
Running Water- No
Structure- Scrap Materials
 

Family Story:

Zahia is originally from Colima. She grew up in an abusive family situation. Her father drank and beat her mother, causing 2 miscarriages. Eventually her mother had enough and her and the children fled to Ensenada. They came looking for a better life, and moved in with an aunt. Zahira was about 4 years old when they came to Ensenada. They had problems while living with the aunt and had to move out to a trailer that had been loaned to Zahira’s mother. When Zahira turned 18, she moved back to Colima. That is where she met the father of her eldest son. Things were going well until he began drinking and physically abusing Zahira. It got to a point where Zahira couldn’t take any more and she had to move back to Ensenada with her mom and stepdad. Shortly after, she began dating a man who lived in the US and came to Ensenada every once in a while. She got pregnant and the father said that he would help take care of them, but that he wouldn’t leave behind his life in the US. He helps from time to time, but it has been difficult for Zahira to take care of two children alone. Zahira’a mother eventually asked her to leave, but donated land to her so she had somewhere to go. She got some money and paid for the legal rights to the land, and built a small room from scrap wood and tarps. She has lived there for over a year. As a mother, Zahira wants the best for her children. It would be the best for her to know that her children are safe, that they won’t be cold, or wet in the rain. She says Homes of Hope gives them the opportunity to have something that she alone cannot give to her children.

Grace Fellowship- Morales Parra Family

Build Dates: May 10 & 11

Family Information:

Father- Candido

• Age: 39

• Profession: Odd Jobs

• Weekly Salary: Varies depending on Jobs

Mother- Lorena

• Age: 39

• Profession: Homemaker

• Weekly Salary: N/A

Children-

• Cristopher, 13 yrs, 5th Grade, suffers from COHEN Syndrome and psychomotor retardation

• Evelyn, 5 yrs, Kindergarten, also has COHEN Syndrome and is intellectually delayed

Property Information:

Colonia- Ampliacion Praderas
Structure- They live with Candido’s family
 

Family Story:

Candido and Lorena are born and raised in Ensenada, they met 15 years ago and have 2 children together. Both of their children suffer from the same disorder, it is known as COHEN Syndrome. Christopher is 13 years old, but he doesn’t appear to have 13 years. He does not speak, does not write, and walks slow. He also suffers from focal epilepsy. The two siblings have this syndrome and also hereditary spastic paraparesis, which causes them difficulty in walking and the inability to straighten their legs. Both children have this due to a hereditary problem that both parents carry, or as their doctors have told them , a mutant chromosome from both sides came together and caused the children to be born like this. The family doesn’t currently live on their land, they live with Candido’s family. It has been difficult for them to be able to live in the conditions that some families do while building their own home. They have paid off their land debt, but haven’t been able to build anything. They spend a lot of money on medications and doctors for their children. Candido works in what he can; sometimes he drives trucks, sometimes he goes to the fields to work. They need their own home because they want something safe for their children, so that they may grow up with a better quality of life.

Roadwire Sales- Chavez Osorio Family

Build Dates: May 8 & 9

Family Information:

Mother- Rosa

• Age: 31

• Profession: Nanny

• Weekly Salary: $55 approx.

Children-

• Eduardo, 16 yrs, High School

• Karla, 15 yrs, High School

• Quetzaly, 7 months (Born Oct. 5, 2018)

Property Information:

Colonia- Rancho 4 Milpas
Time with property- 12 years  
Electricity- Yes
Running Water- No
Structure- Wood
 

Family Story:

Rosa is born and raised in Ensenada. She met her first husband at the age of 15 and had her son Eduardo when was was 16 years old, and at 17, she had her daughter Karla. For five years Rosa struggled with her husband who was using drugs. Rosa tried to help him, but he didn’t ever do his part to quit the drugs, and they only had constant problems. Rosa decided to leave him because she couldn’t continue down that path of caring for her children and husband; she needed to do what was best for her children. After Rosa decided to end things, her husband insisted she not leave him and would bother her and her children; he’d get so aggressive towards them, and she’d have to go to the police for help. After time, he eventually let them be. Rosa now has a boyfriend who lives close by, and her oldest children have accepted him. Rosa’s father bought her a piece of land many years ago when she was still married. Her first husband helped her build a house on that land and that is where they still live. Rosa used to work at the school where her children attended; the director of the school had given her children a scholarship to attend. After working for the school, Rosa decided to leave and work cleaning houses. Rosa had been working for herself cleaning houses for 6 months before she got pregnant with Quetzaly and was unable to continue doing that. Currently Rosa works as a nanny and is the sole provider for her house and children. Rosa wants to have a better house and provide something of better quality for her children to live in.

Stanwood Foursquare Red- Lara Gonzales Family

Build Dates: May 4 & 5

Family Information:

Father- Saul

• Age: 27

• Profession: Driver

• Monthly Salary: $294 approx.

Mother- Lorena

• Age: 23

• Profession: Homemaker

• Weekly Salary: N/A

Children-

• Christian, 3 yrs

• Yathziri, 4 yrs, Kindergarten

Property Information:

Colonia- Valle del Sol
Time with property- 5 months
Electricity- Shared
Running Water- No
Structure- Scrap Materials & Dirt Floor
 

Family Story:

Lorena and Saul met in Ensenada almost five years ago. They have 2 beautiful children; Yathzin who is 4 years old and in the 2nd grade, and Christian who is 3 years old. Saul met Lorena when she was a single mom. Lorena was in a relationship, but when she became pregnant the man didn’t want to support her or their baby. So, she left him. Once Saul and Lorena started their relationship, Saul took on the role of father and supporter for Lorena her baby. A year later, they had their first child together. They rented for a time, but they heard of an opportunity to buy a property outside the city and decided to go for it. The total cost of the property was around $4,200 dlls. They have already paid $1,200 dlls. They make a monthly payment of $75 dlls. A neighbor helped them to build a small house with wood scraps and tarps. Their property doesn’t have running water or electricity.

Stanwood Foursquare Green- Hernandez Pantoja Family

Build Dates: May 4 & 5

Family Information:

Mother- Edelmira

• Age: 58

• Profession: Cook

• Weekly Salary: $50

Children-

• Martaliza, 14 yrs

• Edelmira’s 99 yr old father lives with her

Property Information:

Colonia- Valle del Sol
Time with property- 7 months
Electricity- No
Running Water- No
Structure- Wood Scraps & Tarps
 

Family Story:

Edelmira is from Guanajuato and has a daughter named Martha Alicia who is 14 years old. Edelmira’s father also lives with them. Edelmira is a single mom who came to Ensenada 6 years ago looking for a better job and opportunities. She lives next to her brother who helps her with their father and her daughter when he can. Together they started a restaurant and rent a small place for their business. She is still paying for the property she is living on. The property cost her around $4,500 dlls. She has paid $2,000 dlls so far and makes monthly payments of $100 dlls. She lives in a small house made with wood scraps and tarps. The property has no electricity or running water. Edelmira has made a small room for her father next to her house. Her father will soon be 100 years old. He is in need of some assistance and attention, but still has a great mind and enjoys telling stories about the different thing he has experienced and seen over the many years he has been alive.