Arrieta Murillo
Date Build: Saturday 10th - Sunday 11th, September 2026
FAMILY INFORMATION
MOTHER: Janet
Age: 31 years old
Job: Her own business
Salary weekly: $88 US
CHILDREN:
Jose - 7 years old
Sofia - 3 years old
LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:
Dear Homes of Hope, my parents separated when I was very young. My father struggled with alcohol, and when I was 17, I decided to leave my mother's home and move in with him. At that time, he had just come out of a rehabilitation center, and since I was already working, I wanted to be there to support him through his recovery. Sadly, he began drinking again and eventually made me leave his home. Instead of returning to my mother, who already had another partner, I decided to rent a place on my own. Shortly afterward, I began a relationship and moved in with my partner. I became pregnant, and at first everything seemed to be going well, but over time the physical abuse began. The situation continued to get worse until I could no longer endure it, and I asked a friend to help me get out. After some time, I was able to begin again. I found a job, and when my son was about to turn three, I decided to use part of what I had earned to give him a birthday party. It was a beautiful and very special day for us, but only ten days later, my son passed away. Losing him was one of the most painful experiences of my life, and it took me a long time to learn how to move forward. Later, I became pregnant again and had my second son. His father did not want to take responsibility, but thankfully my family helped me continue moving forward. During the COVID pandemic, I had to work while my son stayed with my mother. Because of the circumstances at that time, there were periods when I could only see him through a window. Those were difficult years, and I also found myself constantly moving from one apartment to another. Later, I met someone else and became pregnant with my daughter, Sofía. It was a high-risk pregnancy, and when my partner did not respond to our needs in the way I had hoped, I decided it would be better to continue on my own with my children. Today, our family consists of three people: my two children and me. I have been renting since I was 18 years old, and as rental prices continue to rise, it has become increasingly difficult to afford. At the same time, I am making payments on a piece of land of my own, where I hope one day to build our home. I work by selling whatever I can to cover our expenses. I sell desserts and different products while also taking my children to and from school. Every day, I look for ways to earn enough to provide for our small family. I grew up in a family that attended a Christian church. There was a time when I drifted away, especially after going through so many difficult circumstances, but I never lost my faith. Despite everything I have experienced, I continue believing and working to give my children a more stable life. My greatest hope is to build a house on our land, leave behind so many years of moving from place to place, and give my children somewhere we can finally call our own. I will continue moving forward for my children, trusting in God and believing that better days are still ahead for our family.