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Thursday, March 3, 2005

HUD and Habitat for Humanity Team Up

When Ricky and Monica Gallegos applied for a Habitat for Humanity home they never imagined that they would meet the qualification requirements. For the young couple that resided in a 1969 singlewide one-bedroom mobile home, the hopes and dreams of homeownership seemed too far down the road.

Ricky, who uses a wheelchair, was a full-time student, and Monica was the sole supporter with her low-paying job at a local deli. The mobile home was not equipped to meet Ricky’s special needs. His wife would have to assist him into the trailer because his wheelchair would not fit through the door.

In January 2003, Ricky and Monica learned that Habitat for Humanity was holding an application meeting. Even though the Gallegos’s applied, they left the meeting feeling doubtful that they would qualify for a home.

Ricky and Monica Gallegos applied for a Habitat for Humanity home, but never expected to qualify.

Kevin Cronk, Director of Habitat for Humanity in Valencia County, visited Ricky and Monica at their mobile home. Seeing the wheelchair outside, Kevin became very concerned that Ricky would not be able to get out if the home caught fire. Habitat evaluates living conditions and takes into consideration certain needs when determining priority applicants. Kevin determined that the Gallegos’s qualified for a Habitat home, and for safety reasons, needed to be moved up to the top of the list.

Kevin Cronk, Director of Habitat for Humanity in Valencia County, visited Ricky and Monica at their mobile home. Seeing the wheelchair outside, Kevin became very concerned that Ricky would not be able to get out if the home caught fire. Habitat evaluates living conditions and takes into consideration certain needs when determining priority applicants. Kevin determined that the Gallegos’s qualified for a Habitat home, and for safety reasons, needed to be moved up to the top of the list.

Ricky and Monica were required to put in 500 hours of Sweat Equity. This includes doing construction work on the house that the recipient is going to move into and on other Habitat homes. However, taking into consideration Ricky’s handicap, and his wife’s pregnancy, Habitat for Humanity assigned Sweat Equity duties that included data entry, assisting people with applications, and general office duties.

Monica Gallegos painted the bathroom floor as part of the program's sweat equity requirement.

Ricky didn’t realize that his duties were preparing him for a new career with Habitat and a career in Computer Aided Drafting. Ricky is currently working part-time for Habitat for Humanity and attends the University of New Mexico full-time where he maintains a 3.5 GPA. Ricky now earns a decent salary that affords Monica the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom.

With tears in their eyes and joy in their hearts, Ricky and Monica moved into their new home in the Pasitos del Cielo Community on December 13, 2003. Their home was built to be fully ADA-accessible. The kitchen counters are lower to the floor so that Ricky can cook meals, clean dishes, and engage in other kitchen duties.

The master bathroom has a shower with a bench so that Ricky can gain easy access and bathe while sitting on the bench. In case of a fire, there are double glass doors in the bedroom that will accommodate the wheelchair.

As a result of this project, Habitat for Humanity of Valencia County has decided that all future homes would be designed and built with basic ADA features that will allow homeowners to accommodate handicapped family members.

“Habitat for Humanity has been a major plus in my life,” Ricky said. “I would have never owned a home without their help. If you are disabled or have other medical issues, don’t let them hinder you from applying because Habitat for Humanity will work with you to create Sweat Equity that you can perform.” Ricky said that during his sweat equity, he was able to sit on the floor and lay tile in his house.

The Pasitos del Cielo community is near Tomé, a beautiful desert valley beneath the Manzano Mountains.

The Pasitos del Cielo community has been made possible through grants provided by HUD and its partners. The community is near Tomé, a beautiful desert valley beneath the Manzano Mountains in Valencia County. Within a 3.5-mile radius, there are schools for children from kindergarten through the college. Thirty-two of the 126 homes planned for the community have been built.

In the second phase, half of the homes will be set aside for people at 80% of median income, and half for families that are 50% and below. When all the homes have been built, the Habitat for Humanity office in Pasitos del Cielo will be converted into a community center that will have a computer lab, after-school programs for children, and a variety of classes for adults.

Ricky is working with other homeowners to create a homeowners association and to build an ADA-accessible playground. Another innovation is the formation of the Pasitos de Cielo Homebuyers Club. Members will learn how to manage budgets, create retirement and education funds, develop home-based businesses, and many other activities that improve the quality of life for families.

For more information, contact the Habitat office www.habitatvalencia.org at (505) 864-3033. To learn about other programs, call the HUD New Mexico Field Office at (505) 346-7320. Be sure to visit our homeownership page.