Home #1
Zamora lives in Home 1; she was referred to us by North Marin Community Services.
Zamora is a young woman from Central America; she has been working as a housekeeper since 2018. She really loves her work and takes great pride in what she does.
Her current focus includes her family being happy, safe, and doing well in school. She has three wonderful children: an 8-year-old girl with excellent English and an interest in art and fashion, plus very active twin 6-year-old boys. The family was reunited in January of this year and has been living in one room until just recently.
Having a home in a community is perfect for her goals. Next week Zamora starts English classes; her daughter is very excited to practice English with her mom and brothers!
Zamora and her family were thrilled when they arrived home. With great emotion, she said "I never expected it to look like this! You are so wonderful....God bless you."
When the kids saw their three scooters, they were SO happy!
Home #2
Fred was referred to us by the Marin Center for Independent Living. At 52, Fred is delighted that he now has his own sunny studio apartment.
He grew up in Marin but spent most of his adult life after high school living in the East Bay. He fathered his first two children but then became separated from their mother. The heartbreak threw him for a loop; he found himself living outside, homeless, and dependent on street life. He was often frightened for his life.
Through the help of friends, he slowly started to get his life back together again. He now looks forward to caring for other elders besides his parents and being an example to kids by being “more humble and less cool.” He says he wants to share his lesson that “You’ve got to be around healthy people to stay healthy.”
Fred was so happy to see the transformation of his studio apartment in Marin: "Oh, wow, it's beautiful; I really like it. It's unreal... Thank you so much!"
Home #3
Henry was referred to us by the Marin Housing Authority. He's is a thoughtful, fun, and grateful young man who grew up in Marin and has been on his own since he was 15. He's now 27 and has never had a place to call "his home." Couch surfing, living in cars and shelters has been his life for the last 12 years.
Until recently living at New Beginnings, he is excited and ready for a move into his first apartment. He is starting a new job in highway maintenance. He would someday like to have his own business and brand.
Henry was stunned at the change of his new apartment. He commented, “I didn’t realize you were going to do all this!”
As you can see, we helped to make the empty space into a comfortable home. We tried to tailor the colors and style to his preferences, hence the skateboard-themed shower curtain! His favorite colors are gray and purple. Thanks to our generous donors, we were able to put together a handsome home for Henry.
Home #4
Rowena's was referred to us by North Marin Community Services. After arriving from Peru to join her family as a young girl, Rowena met and married her US-born husband. She enrolled in college, planning to attend nursing school. Unfortunately, after their son was born, the relationship became abusive and she was forced to leave, taking her child with her, but very little else. Her son, now 15, excels in math at school, and just made the high school football team.
Continuing in college was impossible but Rowena has managed to support herself by taking classes and then working as a hairdresser. She is studying hard, training as much as she can in her own time to learn the skills needed to become a top stylist. She is thrilled that her new home has space to train herself at night; she's determined to achieve her goal.
Rowena and her son came home, opened the door of their newly furnished apartment and couldn’t stop beaming. "It’s amazing!’"she smiled, teary eyed.
She looked at all the new opportunities her home now provides, including a kitchen and dining room for them to cook and enjoy family meals, space for her hair styling work to grow, outdoor furniture to relax on and even a new bike to enjoy - a comfortable sanctuary for them to spend time together.
Stretching out in the fun, rocking armchair, her son declared "This is MY spot, I’m going to be sitting here!" And then he said what every mother longs to hear,"I'll be spending a lot more time at home now," he said as he hugged his Mom.