Date Build: Saturday 21st - Sunday 22nd, February 2026
FAMILY INFORMATION
MOTHER: Marla
Age: 22 years old
Job: Grocery Store
Salary weekly: $114 US
FATHER: Omar
Age: 33 years old
Job: Flea market
Salary weekly: $171 US
CHILDREN:
Alfredo - 2 years old
LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:
Dear Homes of Hope team, I write to you with a heart full of hope, driven by the need to provide my family with a dignified home. I thank you for the opportunity you offer and would like to share our story. I’m from Oaxaca and came to Tijuana in search of a better life. My partner is from Tijuana—we met four years ago and decided to start a relationship. He told me he had a five-year-old son, Ian Omar, whom he was raising on his own because the mother wasn’t involved. That’s how the three of us became a family and began renting a room. We decided to look for a plot of land so we could feel more at ease. Ian got sick due to severe allergies, and our money barely covered our needs. In December 2022, we found out I was pregnant—it was a beautiful moment, but also a big challenge. We started selling things on the weekends to earn a bit more money, which allowed us to pay the down payment on the land. When our baby was born, we built a small wooden room on the land—it meant a lot to us, but then the rains came, and everything we owned got soaked. For the children’s health, we decided to move in with my mother, who lives nearby. Around that time, Ian’s mother showed up saying she now had financial stability, and she took him to live with her. It was hard to see him go. We kept working on fixing up our little wooden room—it no longer leaks, but it’s still very cold. A few months ago, we went through a tough financial time and Alfredo’s salary wasn’t enough. Thankfully, I found a job at a grocery store. The pay isn’t great, but they allow me to bring my baby with me. Alfredo now sends child support to Ian’s mother, and we’re doing ok. We dream of having a proper home where we can eat, sleep, and welcome Ian for weekend visits. Thank you for this opportunity—there are no words to express our gratitude. May God bless and protect you.