“Because of Habitat, our daughters have succeeded. Habitat opened the doors and we sacrificed every cent so they could go to good schools. Each of my girls went to a four-year university, without Habitat we would not have been able to afford their education.” – Rosa, homeowner since 1993.
Habitat Selected Morgan Hill Families
Martha
Martha and her daughter, Elizabeth (16), live with Martha’s father in a rented mobile home. Martha moved in with her parents when her mother was diagnosed with cancer, and stayed following her death to care for her father. Their living situation is cramped and uncomfortable, yet Martha never wanted to leave Morgan Hill, the place she has called home since 4 years old. She believes that Morgan Hill is a great place to raise a family and enjoys serving the community as a city carrier for USPS. Martha can’t wait to be sitting in the living room of her new home with the great sense of pride that she built her home, along with her community.
Steve & Elaine
Steve and Elaine and their five children live in a four bedroom apartment in a low-income apartment complex. The children, Alex (19), Chris (17), Mandy (7), Nick (6) and Beth (3), are all homeschooled in the tight living space. They have a common yard area shared among the other residents but it lacks security. One very unique reason the Hays would like to be homeowners is for their son Alex who has Down Syndrome. Steve & Elaine have tried desperately to give Alex his own privacy and independence without placing him in a group home. Owning a Habitat home will allow the family to stay together and continue the homeschooling Alex needs to become an independent adult.
Ismael & Leticia
Ismael and Leticia have four sons, Michael (6), Vincent (5), Jacob (3) and Joshua (2). They live in a three bedroom apartment right off a busy main road in Morgan Hill and have only a small porch for the boys to play in. The Montes Family often considered moving to a more affordable area like the central valley. However, the commute would keep Ismael away from his family far too often for the move to be worth while. Ismael is a maintenance worker for the City of Morgan Hill. Ismael & Leticia look forward to the challenges associated with homeownership and can’t wait to create stability for their family.
Joey & Deborah
Joey and Deborah have two boys, Justus (4) and Jordan (2), and another baby on the way. They have been sharing a house with Deborah’s mother to insure their boys have a home to live in. Their backyard is dangerous for the boys to play in and their neighborhood is worse. There is prevalent drug use and frequent car thefts. They have tried to save enough money to leave the neighborhood but have been unable to make enough for a down payment on a house. Joey commutes everyday from Hollister to Morgan Hill, which is costly but worth keeping his job with the City of Morgan Hill. They believe you can’t just take what you’re dealt in life but you have to help yourself and rise above your situation. They are thankful to Habitat for Humanity for helping them make their dream come true, a dream that was once improbable.
Jesus & Maria
Jesus and Maria have raised four children in a three bedroom mobile home on a rented space in Morgan Hill. Although one son has moved out, the space for five has still been difficult to accommodate the needs of Jesus (27), Miguel (20), and Viviana (15). Both sons require special attention as Jesus has Down Syndrome and Miguel is overcoming a cancerous infection that required chemotherapy and bone surgery. Due to their circumstances both sons require their own bedrooms, leaving Viviana to share a room with her parents. The family credits their endurance for keeping them together but their greatest hope is to reward themselves with a new start, better life, and a home of their dreams. They are looking forward to moving into their home and helping future Habitat families.
Mark & Mandy
Mark and Mandy and their two children, Ella (3) and Eric (1), live together in a one bedroom in Mark’s parents’ house. Mandy sleeps with the youngest in the bed while Mark and the three year old share a mattress on the floor. Mark and Mandy both work at restaurants, one during the day and the other at night, in order to provide for their two young children. They have tried moving out of Mark’s parents’ house but have been unsuccessful because of the high cost of rent in the area. The family is excited to work together with friends, family and volunteers to build their home. They are eager to develop their neighborhood with other Habitat families and give their children the space they deserve to grow.
