Date Build: Tuesday 17th - Thursday 19th, February 2026
FAMILY INFORMATION
MOTHER: Gemma
Age: 26 years old
Job: Call center
Salary weekly: $148 US
FATHER: Juan Carlos
Age: 24 years old
Job: Pharmacy employee
Salary weekly: $151 US
CHILDREN:
Melody - 1 year old
LETTER FROM THE FAMILY:
Dear Homes of Hope team, when I think about our family story, I feel deeply moved and grateful for everything we've been through and how our lives have changed since becoming parents. Almost 10 years ago, we decided to start a life together—we were very young, but we knew doing what was best for both of us was the right path. We started working from a young age since we don’t come from families with many opportunities. Although we both studied, finishing school has been difficult due to our jobs. We lived for two years in Oaxaca, renting in different places, with long, hard, and poorly paid workdays. Two years ago, my mother-in-law passed away, largely because we couldn’t afford her medication, which left us very discouraged. At that time, we talked to an aunt living in Tijuana who encouraged us to move there for a better chance at building a future. We bought bus tickets and came. Right away we found work—me in a hardware store and my partner in a pharmacy. Things were going well until the pandemic hit. Later, I began working as a delivery person for a pharmacy. We had hoped to return to Oaxaca, but instead, we decided to buy land in Tijuana. We saved for months and looked for the best option. These years haven't been easy, but our love has grown stronger. I thank God for giving me such a loving partner—we've learned to turn obstacles into life lessons. In June 2023, our lives changed when we received the blessing of our baby. We found out about the pregnancy during a threatened miscarriage. We're not religious, but we always pray to God. The birth was difficult, and my partner lost a lot of blood, but now our lives are full of joy, laughter, and love—along with sleepless nights and exhaustion. It's a mix of emotions. When thinking about returning to work, we decided she would stay home to avoid leaving the baby with strangers in daycare. She noticed how tired I was from working double shifts and tried selling desserts at the street market, but it was very difficult. We are a team—we encourage each other. Now she works at a call center, and we take turns with shifts, so we hardly see each other, but we find ways to manage. A neighbor told us about “Casas de Esperanza.” We dream of a place where we can create memories with our daughter—a true home. Right now, we feel overwhelmed by all the expenses. Thank you for your time, and I send you our gratitude and respect.
