True U Purple Team- Martinez Rizos Family

Build Dates: December 5th & 6th

Family Information:

Father- Joel

• Age: 23
• Profession: Works at Gas Station
• Weekly Salary: $56

Mother- Brenda

• Age: 23
• Profession: N/A
• Weekly Salary: N/A

Children-

• Brianna, 5 yrs, Kindergarten (girl)
• Poleth, 2 yrs, Preschool (girl)

Property Information:

Colonia- Portal de Las Brisas
Time with property- 
Electricity- No
Running Water- No

Family Story:

Joel and Brenda are from Michoacan, where Joel worked at a grocery store until he was laid off. It was then very difficult to find a good job. Michoacan is suffering from great economical problems and drug traffickers. His wife Brenda didn't want him to feel pressured to enter into the world of drugs, so they decided it was best to move. They came to Ensenada where Brenda's sister was living. At first they were living with Brenda's sister, but they had a lot problems with that and decided to rent their own place. Joel found a stable job working at a gas station. They rented the house fro a year and a half but found it difficult to be able to keep making the payments on Joel's salary. They stopped renting and found a piece of land to buy on credit. They moved their family to their land where they now live in a small house they made from old pallets.

True U Blue Team- Lopez Salvador Family

Build Dates: December 5th & 6th

Family Information:

Father- Gumaro

• Age: 32
• Profession: Field Worker
• Weekly Salary: $63

Mother- Petra

• Age: 30
• Profession: N/A
• Weekly Salary: N/A

Children-

• Leonardo, 8 yrs, 1st Grade (boy)
• Daniela, 5 yrs (girl)

Property Information:

Colonia- Miramar
Time with property- 
Electricity- No
Running Water- No

Family Story:

Gumaro and Petra are from Oaxaca. They came to Ensenada 7 years ago due to a lack of money and work in Oaxaca. Petra and Gumaro have been married for 8 years and have 2 children. Petra's family is also living with them at the moment. Gumaro is currently unable to speak due to an accident 6 years ago that left him without his voice. Petra stays home to care for their children while Gumaro works. They live in a small house made mostly of tarps with a dirt floor, it is in very bad conditions. They have no money to use to build them a proper home. This family has never had their own home and their daughter who is five has been raised in in very poor conditions. They have faith that one day they will be able to have something better.  

True U Red Team- Serapio Santos Family

Build Dates: December 5th & 6th

Family Information:

Father- Roberto

• Age: 24
• Profession: Packer
• Weekly Salary: $62

Mother- Marcela

• Age: 27
• Profession: N/A
• Weekly Salary: N/

Children-

• Imelda, 8 ys, 1st Grade (girl)
• Samuel, 5 yrs, Kindergarten (boy)
• Josue, 3 yrs (boy)
• Elias, 8 months (boy)

Property Information:

Colonia- Paraiso
Time with property- 
Electricity- No
Running Water- No

Family Story:

Roberto came to Ensenada in 2005 when he started working on a ranch for 4 years. At that time he was accused of theft and decided to leave and go to San Quentin where he worked for 5 years. He recently moved to Ensenada and found work at a packing facility. He met Marcela while at the ranch and have been together since 2007. After renting small rooms for years, they decided it was best to invest in a piece of land. They got a lot on credit and currently make payments around $60 a month. Roberto built them a very small place that measures 2.5 meters on each side. He bought the beams and wood and tied it together with cardboard; their roof is plastic and tarps. They have lived on their property for 4 months now.  

Defenders Blue- Martinez Lopez Family

Build Dates: November 27th & 28th

Family Information:

Father- Ismael

• Age: 23
• Profession:
• Weekly Salary: $54

Mother- Norma

• Age: 22
• Profession: None

Children-

• Gustavo
• Gerardo

Property Information:

Colonia- Basurero Viejo
Time with property- 1 year
Electricity- No
Running Water- No

Family Story:

Norma and Ismael are from Oaxaca. They met in Oaxaca and came to Ensenada together 3 years ago looking for better work and a better future for their children. For two years they rented a small room that was in bad conditions. In the meantime, Ismael was looking for a good, stable job. Ismael now has a job and earns around $54 a week, but that isn't enough to make ends meet. He works from 7 am to 3:30 pm packing vegetables. They now have two small sons in diapers who require a lot of attention and Norma stays home with them because they don't have anyone else to watch them in order for Norma to work.

Defenders Red- Martinez Sanchez Family

Build Dates: November 27th & 28th

Family Information:

Father- Macario

• Age: 34
• Profession: Field Worker
• Salary: $8.80/day

Mother- Maricela

• Age: 28

Children-

• Adriana, 10 yrs, 5th Grade (girl)
• Javier, 5 yrs, Kindergarten (boy)
• Luis, 3 yrs (boy)

Property Information:

Colonia- Basurero Viejo
Time with property- 7 months
Electricity- No
Running Water- No

Family Story:

Macario and Maricela are both originally from Oaxaca. They came to Ensenada looking for work because in Oaxaca there aren't many options. At the time they only had their daughter Adriana. Macario found work with his cousins and with others who offered him jobs here and there. They had two more children while living in a place that one of Macario's cousins lent them. Macario was able to get land on credit and there he built a room from plywood and plastic for his family to live in. Where there land is used to be a garbage dump. Macario currently works in the fields and his schedule is from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm; Maricela stays home caring for their 3 children. It has been difficult for them to be able to build something because they do not have the resources needed to do so.

Seattle Church Red- Gomez Santiago Family

Build Dates: November 23rd-25th

Family Information:

Father- Armando

• Age: 23
• Profession: Works at Fruit Store
• Weekly Salary: $57

Mother- Silvia

• Age: 20
• Profession: Homemaker

Children-

• Evelin, 3 yrs, Preschool (boy)
• Sofia, 4 yrs, Kindergarten (girl)

Property Information:

Colonia- Paraiso
Time with property- 1 year
Electricity- No
Running Water- No

Family Story:

Armando and Silvia met at a very young age while working in the fields, he was 17 and she was 15. A year after getting together they had their first daughter Sofia, and later they had their second daughter Evelyn. During that time they were living with Silvia's family, but due to problems within the family they had to move out. They went to live on a ranch and work there as laborers. The girls were there with them while they worked because they didn't have anyone to help. This situation was very hard for them, but one of Silvia's brothers approached them and insisted that Armando go and work for him instead. They moved once again and over time were able to get a piece of land on credit and with the help of Silvia's brother they were able to get some wood and and build a place for them to live. What they used to build the walls was borrowed and at some point they may need to give them back. If this happens they do not have another option for a place to live. They have tried to buy the materials they need to build a better home, but sometimes it is too difficult.

Seattle Church Blue- Cortez Santiago Family

Build Dates: November 23rd-25th

Family Information:

Father- Luis

• Age: 30
• Profession: Works at a Fruit Store
• Weekly Salary: $53

Mother- Trinidad

• Age: 22
• Profession: Homemaker

Children-

• Victor Manuel, 5 yrs, Kindergarten (boy)
• Jazmin Lili, 2 yrs (girl)

Property Information:

Colonia- El Veladero
Time with property- 3 months
Electricity- No
Running Water- No

Family Story:

Trinidad and her husband lived with her sister-in-law and they take care of the house when the sister-in-law was away. The sister-in-law kicked them out and Trinidad and Luis had to find a place to live. They got a piece of land on credit and lived there for a long time, without a bathroom or materials to build a house. Where they live there are lots of ticks and other insects because of the dirt and Luis hasn't had the money to lay a cement floor. Trinidad has another sister-in-law that is sick down south and Luis wants to visit her, but hasn't been able to. Trinidad has to work along with Luis just for them to be able to pay for the basic expenses of their family. This family needs a house because they don't have the resources needed to do something more stable and better for their children. Their children are very young and struggle with sickness because of the conditions they live in. Their roof is bad and there are holes and openings throughout their place where the wind and rains enter.

Seattle Church Green- Solana Martinez Family

Build Dates: November 23rd-25th

Family Information:

Father- Irene

• Age: 40
• Profession: Disabled
• Weekly Salary: N/A

Mother- Margarita

• Age: 39
• Profession: Homemaker
• Weekly Salary: N/A
   

Children-

• Jared, 7 yrs, 2nd Grade
• Darwin, 18 yrs, works
• Uriel, 19 yrs, works
• Ulises, 21 yrs, works

Property Information:

Colonia- Paraiso
Time with property- 2 years
Electricity- Yes
Running Water- They Buy Water

Family Story:

Margarita and Irene left Oaxaca 6 years ago and went to live in La Paz, but Irene ran into the same problems they had in Oaxaca- a lack of work and not enough money to pay the bills. He decided to move the family to Ensenada where they found a home to rent. They were struggling to pay the rent so they decided to get a piece of land on credit even though that would leave them with no money as well but it was better because in the future they would own it. Irene was in a work related accident last November and because of that, he hasn't been able to find work as he is unable to lift heavy things. His three oldest boys had to give up studying in order to help their parents. This family have been living on their land for 2 years. They built a home from cardboard, old wood, plastic and tarps. The youngest son Jared has problems with anemia and has to be taken to the doctor every 2 months to get treated for it. This family is unable to build a home for themselves. They know that God is faithful and will provide a home for their children when it is the right time.