Freedom Church- Avila Fernandez Family

Build Dates: May 16-17, 2015

Family Information:

Father- Edgar

• Age
• Profession:
• Weekly Salary:

Mother- Sandra

• Age
• Profession:
• Weekly Salary:

Children-

• Dana, age 7, 2nd Grade
• Diego, age 5, Kindergarten

 

Property Information:

Colonia- El Paraiso
Time with property- 2 months
Electricity- No
Running Water- No

 

Family Story:

Edgar and Sandra are from Durango. They came to Ensenada 3 years ago because there was a lot of violence and corruption in Durango and they didn't want to continue to live in fear.

They arrived in Ensenada and began renting a house. Later on they decided to get a piece of land and start making payments on it. Edgar built a small structure for them out of wood, wrapped the roof in plastic, and that is where they lived for 6 months. The landowner who sold them the land later asked for it back because he had a buyer who wanted all of the land, including the piece that was Edgar and Sandra's. Edgar and Sandra refused to give up their land because they had already been living there and making the payments on it. The owner then raised the price of the payments each month hoping that they would be unable to continue to pay for it. Edgar and Sandra fet a lot of pressure to try to make the payments on time and they eventually had to give the land back.

With the money they got back, they were able to get another piece of land in another area. This new property was more expensive, but they were given the opportunity to buy it on credit and only having to pay about $70 a month. Edgar moved the small house they had previously built on their old land and they have been living on their new property for almost 3 months now.

Kemp Family Build- Nepomuceno Garcia Family

Build Dates: May 4-5, 2015

Family Information:

Father- Ruben

• Age 38
• Profession: Packaging Produce
• Weekly Salary: $60

Mother- Maria del Carmen

• Age 39
• Profession: Packaging Produce
• Weekly Salary: $60

 

Children-

• Cristiana, age 12, 5th Grade
• Dulce, age 8, 2nd Grade

 

Property Information:

Colonia- El Paraiso
Time with property- 8 months
Electricity- Yes
Running Water- No

 

Family Story:

Ruben and Maria del Carmen have been married for 5 years. Ruben is not the girls' biological father; their father left for the USA, married another woman, and never came back. Ruben loves the girls as though they were his biological children.

They were living in Culiacan, but returned to Ensenada one and a half years ago because Maria's parents were here. Ruben and Maria decided to start a new life here in Ensenada because there is more work and the girls had good schools to attend. They bought a piece of land on credit and built a small room out of pieces of old wood and cardboard which they wrapped in plastic.

They have been living there for 8 months. Both Ruben and Maria work packing produce for 836 pesos a week. They put the money they each earn together in order for them to be able to cover the cost of the land payments each month and their household expenses. A sister-in-law of Maria cares for the girls while their parents are working. Even though they both work, their salaries are just barely enough to cover everything and is not sufficient to build them a better home.

ST Luke's- Reyes Desales Family

Build Dates: May 1-2, 2015

Family Information:

 

 

Father- Adolfo

• Age 35
• Profession: Security Guard
• Weekly Salary: $79

Mother- Lucila

• Age 31
• Profession:
• Weekly Salary:

 

Children-

• Juan, age 12, 6th Grade
• Dulce, age 10, 4th Grade
• Luis, age 4

 

Property Information:

Colonia- 89
Time with property- 9 months
Electricity- Passed from Neighbor
Running Water- Yes

 

Family Story:

Adolfo and Lucia are indigenous from Oaxaca, their native tongue is the Mige dialect. Six years ago they came to Ensenada looking for better work opportunities. They lived in rental houses for 5 years until they decided it was time to use that money and invest in their own land. They found land for sale close to where they had already been living and they got a piece on credit. Adolfo built a small place from them using garage doors and they immediately moved to their land. They have lived there the last 9 months. The money they were using to pay rent is now used to pay off their land every month. Adolfo is a security guard whose shifts will be either day or night. Lucia doesn't work as she stays home to care for their children. Adolfo's salary is their only income and it is very little to cover all their expenses and the land payments each month. For this reason, they haven't been able to build a better home.

Faith Fellowship- Hernandez Trinidad Family

Build Dates: May 1-2, 2015

 

Family Information:

Father- Victor

• Age 22
• Profession: Mechanic
• Weekly Salary: $67-80

Mother- Lucy

• Age 22

Children-

• Angel, age 4, kindergarten 
• Demian, age 2
• 6 months pregnant with Baby #3

 

Property Information:

Colonia- 89
Time with property- 1 year
Electricity- Yes
Running Water- Yes

 

Family Story:

Victor and Lucy are indigenous from Oaxaca; they speak the dialect Zapoteco. They have been married for six years and rented a house for five of those six years until they got land a built a house. They bought land on credit, and are still making payments on it. Victor built a small house that measures 4x4 meters squared which is made of pieces of wood and he wrapped the roof with a tarp.

Their house has no proper floor, but that is where they have been living a year now. Lucy doesn't work and is now pregnant; she decided to stay home to care for her children even though they could use extra income. Victor works in a mechanic shop making $67-80 a week. Victor and Lucy have to pay almost $130 a month for their land payments, and their household expenses on top of that which leaves them with nothing left to build a better home.

Bethel Church- Roman Camacho Family

Build Dates: April 20-22, 2015

 

Family Information:

Father- Marcos

• Age 25
• Profession: Taxi driver
• Daily Salary: $14

Mother- Itzel

• Age 21

Children-

• Ximena, age 1
• Antonio, age 2 months

 

Property Information:

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

 

Family Story:

Itzel and Marcos have been married for 3 years. They bought a piece of land on credit because they didn't want to have to pay to rent a place anymore. Marcos built a small place for them to live there from old pieces of wood. They got 3 months behind on their land payments and the land was taken from them.

They then had to find another place to live and go back to renting. Marcos was able to find a job as a taxi driver where he gets paid $14 a day, but sometimes it is only $10 depending on how much work there was. Marcos' dad saw that his son and son's family were in great need and so he decided to legally give them land so that they didn't have to struggle to pay rent any longer.

Marcos' salary is very little and sometimes not enough to cover all of their expenses. Marcos and Itzel have 2 babies who use diapers and formula, and most of their income goes towards the care of their children. With Marcos' salary it would be very difficult to build his family a home.