Partner Homeowners

The Royce Family

Candy and her mother Dawn worked together as foster parents for many years.  A few years ago, they were faced with a difficult decision.  Three of the foster children living with them, whom Candy had raised from infancy, were faced with going into the foster system once again as they could not be placed back with their biological parents.  Determined not to allow this to happen, Candy and Dawn decided to adopt Baetina, Jaden and Jaxon.  They are now a family of five living in a deteriorating three bedroom apartment and Candy’s dream is to “raise my children in a nice home.” Candy is has been a childcare provider for a school in the South Bay since 2007 and Dawn is retired from many years working as a machinist. Baetina loves going to school and playing with her friends while Jaden and Jaxon work on puzzles and build legos together. Candy and Dawn received glowing references about their selflessness and willingness to help others before themselves.

The Ramirez Family

Guadalupe and his wife Zoila have been living in the same one bedroom apartment with their two children for the past 29 years.  The small space causes difficulty for their 22 year old son Ricardo who is autistic. He is very sensitive to touch and prefers to be left alone but does not have the space to do so.  Besides Ricardo’s immediate needs, the family is often challenged as he rarely sleeps through the night and often screams at the top of his lungs without warning, only to be calmed down by his mother.  Guadalupe and Zoila dream of the day that their son can have his own space to play and be alone when he chooses.  In addition to the overcrowding, the home has severe water damage. Guadalupe worked as a construction worker before recently retiring while Zoila has worked as an In-Home Service Provider for their son Ricardo for more than six years.  In Zoila’s free time she volunteers at the Regional Center and attends school and council district meetings. Ricardo really loves music while his brother Roberto likes to play basketball. Zoila feels that owning a home will provide “a good future” for her children.

The Prescott Family

Duetrell and her four children live in an older three bedroom, one bathroom home that is falling apart around them.  Extensive termite damage and a mold problem keep Duetrell busy doing what she can to clean and do minor repairs in the home.  But, her dream is to raise her children in a safe and healthy environment in Lynwood. Duetrell is a hard working single mother, having worked as a clerk typist for more than six years.   She grew up in Lynwood and has lived in the community for more than 20 years. Duetrell attends Christian Unity Baptist Church and occasionally sings in her church choir.  Dwashawntai is attending college and hopes to major in Spanish.  All three of Duetrell’s sons love basketball and find time everyday to play in the backyard.  Keviontae also enjoys drawing while Keviyon enjoys math. Duetrell would like to be what she calls, “a living witness” and spread the word of what determination and partnering with Habitat for Humanity can do to fulfill a family’s dreams of homeownership.

The Arevalo Family

For more than 15 years, Salvador and his wife Sara have lived in the same one bedroom apartment while raising their growing family of three children and two grandchildren.  The neighborhood is extremely unsafe and gang-infested. They have made the best of sharing this space and do an amazing job of keeping the dilapidated apartment well-kept.  In the midst of this living situation, the family feels blessed as they have seen other families living in worse conditions. Salvador has been a Maintenance Technician for a property management company for 11 years while Sara has been a Housekeeper for more than five years at a mental health clinic in Los Angeles.  In his free time, Salvador volunteers at a small non-profit that helps rural families with basic necessities.  Katy is in college studying to be a surgical technician. Leslie sings in their church and has enjoyed tutoring young kids in the summertime while Laria enjoys playing soccer in her free time. When they first heard of Habitat for Humanity and were told of the application process, Salvador said, “I felt tears run down my face at the idea that my own family could very possibly have the opportunity of having our own nice house.”

The Castillo Family

Wendy and her 7‐month‐old daughter Melissa live in a one bedroom, one bathroom apartment with little access to hot water making daily life difficult for the small family. Even with the challenges, Wendy remains positive about her future and hopes to one day have her own home where she can establish her family roots. Wendy dreams of “providing a safe, loving and nurturing environment to share with family.” Her positivity can even be seen in her happy and serene daughter, Melissa, who has a cute little quirk where she wrinkles her nose while smiling. Wendy has worked at a local hospital in housekeeping and environmental services for the past six years. It was at this hospital that Wendy first heard about Habitat for Humanity.  A co‐worker gave her a tour of a home he was performing his own “sweat equity” on – one that was not his own – that would eventually become Wendy’s. His family will end up living only a short block away from hers.

The Coreas Family

Betty and her two children live in a one bedroom, one bathroom rundown apartment in an unsafeneighborhood. She has worked as a Human Resources and Administrative Assistant for more than six  years and although a hard worker, she has not been able to move her children to a safer environment in which they can better thrive. Karoline is a straight‐A high school student who loves to read. She wants to be a doctor when she grows up. Her three year old little brother Fernando is growing up fast and would love to have more room to run and play both inside and out. Betty dreams of owning a home and making it “beautiful, having flowers and trees, where it is clean and spacious for my kids to move around.” She hopes to instill the value of service to herchildren through the process of partnering with Habitat for Humanity. “I want them to learn how valuable it is to give back and how you can make a difference in the lives of others.”

The Lopez Family

For more than nine years, Enrique and Sonia have lived in a small one bedroom, one bathroom apartment in a substandard complex in Long Beach. They have been raising their three sons in this overcrowded apartment while dreaming of a home of their own for their family. Enrique has worked in housekeeping for 12 years and has been providing housekeeping services at a local hospital for more than five years. Sonia has worked as a child care worker for Long Beach Unified School District since 2007. Both Enrique and Sonia have lived in Long Beach for 24 years. They want to continue to raise their sons in Long Beach as they appreciate and utilize the local afterschool programs the city has to offer. Sonia is a big believer in the power of education and encourages her sons to excel in their studies and aim high. 14‐year‐old Angel is enrolled in summer school to accelerate his studies and be better prepared for high school. Younger sons, Anthony and Adan are growing up well and will enjoy the extra space to run and play in their new home. Enrique and Sonia have been saving for a home for years to fulfill their dream of homeownership.

The Partida Family

Martha is a single mother, raising her four children in a deteriorating two bedroom, one bathroom apartment.  With very little space for her children to sleep and do their schoolwork, Martha converted the laundry room into a room for her 19 year old son, David.  Unfortunately, there is no insulation in any of the rooms and her children are often sick due to the cold. Cindy and Johnathan both suffer from asthma which is intensified because of mold and unhealthy living conditions. Martha has worked as a pediatric service technician at a Long Beach medical center for the past five years. Recently, Martha has had to work a lot of overtime just to provide for her family, preventing her from spending quality time with her children.  She hopes to one day be able to work her regular night shift hours and have time to take her children to the YMCA during the day.  David is in college studying to be a Registered Nurse and likes to play the tuba in his free time while Cindy and Priscilla both love school—especially their science and math classes. Johnathan likes reading books and playing with his cars. The opportunity to own her own home is a dream come true for Martha and she looks forward to being in a stable environment and enjoying her house with her family.

The Aguilar Family

Adolfo and Monica have one daughter and a second child on the way. Their current living condition is a concern because of the hazards it poses for their children. Eight years ago, Adolfo emigrated from El Salvador to the United States. He worked hard to follow the proper procedures to bring his wife and daughter to the U.S. He lived with his parents, saved money and worked two housekeeping jobs. Finally, his family joined him in the U.S. in July 2009. He moved out of his parent’s home and found a place to rent. Their daughter, Stephanie loves science, music, dancing and singing. Adolfo and Monica are looking forward to having a stable environment for their children. They feel like owning a home is a dream come true, equivalent to winning the lottery.

The Ayala Family

Javier and Martha Ayala live with their five children in a two-bedroom apartment located in a high-crime neighborhood. The Ayala’s have lived in Lynwood for years and are excited to become homeowners in that same community. Javier supports the family as a machinist and Martha volunteers with at-risk youth and their families. Joseline, their eldest, owns her own business providing financial services and is working toward her business degree. Francisco enjoys playing soccer and is an award-winning student filmmaker. Natalie likes to draw and sketch. Janelle enjoys fashion and Ashley loves to play with her dolls. They look forward to being together under one roof with enough space for everyone.

The Carrazco Family

Jesus, Alma and their son, Angel, live in an overcrowded one-bedroom, one-bathroom home. Their other two children, Sheila and Enrique, only live with them part-time. Jesus is a machinist
and Alma is a proud mom. Sheila is attending college to become a preschool teacher. Enrique is on the wrestling team at his high school and Angel loves singing, playing the guitar and soccer. Owning a home means that Sheila and Enrique will be able to join the family full-time. Jesus has said that the process of becoming a homeowner has been life changing and that he considers all of the volunteers, other partner families and crew leaders, his brothers and sisters. He has also pledged to work on other Habitat for Humanity homes after they have completed their 500 hours of sweat equity – just to pay it forward.

The Osorio Family

Ana and her three children live in an overcrowded one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment. Ana has worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant for over 18 years at a convalescent hospital. Ulises just graduated from high school and is saving money for nursing school. He works part-time and contributes to the household. Annaby is a social butterfly that enjoys music. Nayeli is athletic and excels at basketball and soccer. Ana is proud that Habitat for Humanity of Greater L.A. has helped her to be able to provide her children with a home, something they have always dreamed of. Working alongside other families and volunteers, the children have enjoyed the fact that everyone works together and helps each other.

The Polanco Family

Sonia lives with her parents and two daughters in a substandard, two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment. She has worked as a Community Health Educator for 7 years, educating those that are uninsured and need help in attaining medical services. She also participates in health fairs that raise awareness for women’s health issues and elderly care. Maybelle is a college student who loves animals and has aspirations to become a Veterinarian after she graduates. Nathalia enjoys Theatre Arts and is on the Drama Team at school. She is very funny and outgoing, like her mother. Throughout the building process Sonia has learned that it’s not only about the house but also about growing the relationships and community around them for a sense of belonging.

The Velasquez Family

Sylvia and her two sons share a small bedroom in an overcrowded home with her parents and two brothers. She has worked for the City of Lynwood for 8 years and is a lifelong resident of the city. Sylvia is active in the community and enjoys participating in city events and fundraisers with her boys. Donoven is a sports fanatic, but basketball is his favorite. He is also an honor roll student. Sylvia is active in Donoven’s extracurricular activities and often volunteers as the “team Mom.” Jadon enjoys coloring and is very artistic. As part of the values instilled in her by her parents, she plans to give others a hand up like she has received. She is eager to move in and show her children and the community what it means to live the American dream.